Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was ruled out before the fourth quarter Wednesday with a back issue, as the Phoenix Mercury rallied in her absence to win 111-109. Clark appeared to tweak the injury following a second-quarter foul and exited with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter, eventually making her way to the locker room without returning. The defeat was Phoenix's sixth win of the season.
A Recurring Problem, a Contested Play
The back issue is not new for Clark. She has appeared on Indiana's injury report multiple times this season because of it, making Wednesday's exit part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated incident. The flare-up followed a foul on a drive to the basket in the second quarter. Replay footage appeared to show a Mercury player's knee making contact near Clark's groin as she fell, followed by what looked like contact between that player's fist and Clark's throat. No foul was called on the play.
The physical treatment Clark has absorbed has been a recurring topic since her WNBA debut in 2024, and the second-quarter sequence reignited that conversation.
Copper and the Mercury Close It Out
With Clark off the floor, Phoenix took advantage. Kahleah Copper's 28-point performance was the decisive factor in the narrow Mercury win. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 30 points, but it was not enough to offset the loss of Clark for the final stretch of the game. The 111-109 final margin underlined just how thin the Fever's margin for error is without their primary playmaker on the court.
What Comes Next for Indiana
The Fever remain on their homestand and will face the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday. Clark's availability for that game has not been confirmed. Off the court, Clark recently unveiled the Nike Caitlin 1, her first signature shoe with the brand, carrying an October release date — a commercial milestone that keeps her profile elevated even as questions about her health persist heading into the back half of the Fever's schedule.