Why Caitlin Clark Is a Late Scratch for Wednesday's Fever vs. Fire Game
Shortly before Wednesday night's prime-time tip-off between the Fever and Fire, Indiana announced that Caitlin Clark would be a late scratch and miss the contest. The team stated that Clark is out with a back injury.
To a casual fan, this injury could seem to come out of nowhere, but there have been signs that Clark's back's been bothering her the past few weeks. During a preseason game on April 25, Clark was seen wearing a back brace (or a heating pad) on the sidelines.
Then, on May 9, Clark admitted that the quick trips she's taken to the tunnel during games have been to get her "back adjusted" because it can easily get out of line,Indy Star's Chloe Peterson reported. Clark added that other than the back issue, she feels great.
Her back injury hasn't noticeably impacted her performances on the court through four games. She hasn't posted less than 20 points in each contest, and she even scored 32 points and 10 assists in one game. Most recently on Sunday, Clark competed for 24 minutes and tallied 21 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. It was her second double-double of the 2026 season.
Any injury Clark sustains is a cause of concern for Fever fans, especially after what happened last season. Clark was limited to just 13 games in her sophomore season after dealing with left and right groin injuries, a left quad strain and an ankle bruise. It would be devastating to see Clark sidelined for a majority of the season for two years in a row.
This story will be updated. Check back for updates.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Why Caitlin Clark Is a Late Scratch for Wednesday's Fever vs. Fire Game.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 3:58 PM.