Indiana Fever All-Pro point guard Caitlin Clark has yet to appear in the back half of the season, as she nurses a groin injury for the second time this year. Earlier in her recovery process, Clark got candid about the enormous responsibility she feels to return to the floor for her fans.
“It’s hard, because obviously I do feel this responsibility of being out there and playing,” she said, according to Awful Announcing. “And not that I think there’s a fear of any of this going away. That doesn’t happen when like, LeBron or Steph get hurt. [Fans] are always going to be there,” Clark added.”But you do want to play, you want to give people something to cheer about or scream about.
“People spend so much time, and money, and resources to come and watch you play. And it’s been cool to see people continue to show up for my teammates, whether they’re fans of the Fever just fans of myself, they’re continuing to show up and support.”
Unfortunately, Fever head coach Stephanie White has refrained from committing to a return this season for the face of the team, per one prominent WNBA insider.
“Asked whether she anticipates Caitlin Clark will be back by the end of the regular season, Stephanie White says ‘that’s the hope,'” reported Alexa Phillipou of ESPN.
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“It’s been a rough season. With all the injuries I say Clark sits out and show the proof of her impact on the league,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“WNBA as a whole is not serious (organization) every thing is a secret in any sport you would know time line for a player the next day after (injury) i never seen a player be day to day for pass month and know one knows when the rehab be complete no wonder is CBA is in shambles,” someone else added.
“I would fear for Caitlin Clark’s safety if she came back to this coach and this league. Especially this season,” another fan wrote.
It’ll be interesting to see if Clark manages to make a return this season.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.