Caitlin Clark’s Early Exit Due to Back Injury in Fever’s Game Against Mercury

Caitlin Clark’s game ended prematurely on Wednesday. The Fever guard left before the fourth quarter during Indiana’s match against the Phoenix Mercury.

The Fever confirmed that Clark would not return to the game due to a back problem. Details are sparse on when she first felt the discomfort; however, she seemed to aggravate it after a foul in the second quarter. According to the Indianapolis Star, Clark exited the court with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter and did not come back.

Clark eventually headed to the locker room. The Mercury capitalized on her absence, narrowly defeating Indiana 111-109. This victory marked Phoenix’s sixth win of the season.

Kelsey Mitchell was the top scorer for the Fever with 30 points, but it wasn’t enough to counter Kahleah Copper’s 28 points, which propelled the Mercury to triumph.

The competitive play style that Clark encounters has been a talking point since her WNBA debut in 2024. This discussion emerged again in the second quarter after she was fouled while driving to the basket and lost ball control. Videos seemed to show Phoenix’s Thomas making knee contact with Clark’s groin followed by contact with her throat. No foul got called.

Clark’s back issue is a recurring problem. She has appeared on Indiana’s injury report multiple times this season. The Fever will continue their series at home against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday.