Why Caitlin Clark won’t play for Fever vs. Aces with injury news

Why Caitlin Clark won’t play for Fever vs. Aces with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has confirmed that she will not play Sunday when the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Though Clark attended Fever practice on Friday — her first media availability since an incident with the Phoenix Mercury‘s Alyssa Thomas nine days ago — the three-time All-Star already confirmed that she will miss the showdown against the Aces as she recovers from a back injury.

MORE: Caitlin Clark breaks her silence and asks Fever, WNBA fans to do better amid Alyssa Thomas incident

After an injury-plagued 2025 season caused her to miss 31 of 44 regular-season games — as well as the Fever’s entire playoff run — Clark has been largely healthy in 2026. Sunday will mark just her third missed game of the season, and the Fever has won both games she has missed to date.

Caitlin Clark just said she’s out on Sunday but hopes to play possibly on the back-to-back next week.

— Tony East (@TonyREast) July 3, 2026

Clark though has appeared on the Fever’s injury report for weeks as she has managed back pain — and since the WNBA slapped Indiana with a warning for failing to include Clark on the report when she missed a game against the Portland Fire in May.

During last Wednesday’s loss to Phoenix, Clark appeared to tweak her back while shooting a 3-pointer late in the first half. She did not return for the second half as Indiana suffered a 111-109 loss.

Clark said she hopes to return next week, when the Fever plays consecutive games out west against the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday and against Thomas’ Mercury on Thursday.

More WNBA news:

• Angel Reese inches closer to WNBA suspension after latest technical foul vs. Mystics

• Fever’s Caitlin Clark now knows exactly how WNBA players feel about her amid All-Star voting results

• Did Caitlin Clark sue Alyssa Thomas? Explaining fake report that has fooled WNBA fans

• Dream’s Rhyne Howard inexplicably snubbed as WNBA All-Star starter