INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark was not in the lineup for the Indiana Fever in Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Storm, but the reigning WNBA rookie of the year is perhaps not too far away from returning in her second season that has been seriously limited due to injuries.
Fever coach Stephanie White said Tuesday that Clark participated in a walk-through on Monday as part of her ramping-up process for returning to play.
“She went through it yesterday,” White told reporters. “I want to see her in practice. Live in practice. I want to see her continue to work to not just build endurance, but to be able to handle contact (for) 94 feet as it’s going to be in game, and to be able to do that and sustain from an endurance standpoint.”
White said it would take multiple practices for Clark to return to action. The star guard has missed 24 games this year with muscle injuries, including the past 15 with a strained right groin. Clark has played 13 games this season and has averages of 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds.
Clark, who has not played or practiced since July 15, participated in Indiana’s pregame shootaround Sunday against the host Minnesota Lynx.
After Tuesday, Indiana has six games left in the regular season, and is among the teams still in contention for one of the final two playoff berths.
Clark, whose popularity has led to record attendance and higher television ratings for the league, became Nike’s newest signature athlete on Tuesday.
“There’s very few people who get the opportunity to say they have a logo and to make the impact she makes — not just in the sport but globally — just by being who she is,” White said. “She’s a connector. She brings people together.”