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2h ago

WNBA Warns Indiana Fever After Caitlin Clark’s Last‑Minute Scratch

The league issued a warning over the team’s late reporting of Clark’s back soreness, raising fresh questions about transparency and injury-reporting compliance.

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May 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the first half against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever dribbles the ball.
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Overview

  • The Fever ruled Caitlin Clark out roughly 100 minutes before tipoff in their game against the Portland Fire, citing back soreness that had sidelined her from practice the day before.
  • The team did not list Clark on its initial injury report filed the day before the game, a discrepancy that prompted media scrutiny because WNBA rules require teams to report affected players by 5 p.m. local time.
  • Coach Stephanie White called Clark ‘healthy’ and said the absence was a precaution, denying any season‑long ‘management’ plan while explaining some practice absences do not always appear on formal reports.
  • The WNBA confirmed it issued the Fever a warning for their reporting practices and did not fine the team, and Indiana won the Portland game 90‑73 without Clark as Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell led the effort.
  • Clark is listed as probable for the next home game versus Golden State, and the episode highlights ongoing tension between protecting high‑profile players’ health and meeting league and public expectations for transparent injury disclosures.