Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White Discuss Challenges in Fever's Disappointing Comeback from Injury
After Caitlin Clark's return from injury, the Indiana Fever faced a tough loss against the Golden State Valkyries, raising concerns about the team's performance.
Caitlin Clark’s return from a groin strain was less than ideal for the Indiana Fever during Wednesday’s 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries, a discombobulation of sorts within a lineup that never seemed to be on the same page.
After missing five consecutive games, Clark’s shooting slump continued as she managed 4-for-12 from the floor. The Valkyries took the lead with Kayla Thornton’s 3-pointer near the end of the first half and never looked back.
Clark expressed her concerns about Indiana’s play after their second consecutive loss, which left them trailing four games behind the New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference.
“I thought we played with energy in the first five minutes, and then when they kind of went on their first run, it deflated us a little bit, which I’m not really sure why,” Clark stated via The Indianapolis Star. “But the offense starts on defense for us, and we struggled with the scouting report and personnel. We struggled to execute the coaches’ strategies.”
Coach Stephanie White echoed Clark’s frustrations, indicating the team’s lack of attention to detail was disappointing: “With the exception of about two five-minute spurts, our attention to detail was poor. I’m not sure if it’s not knowing the game plan or not executing it properly. Our competitive spirit and energy were lacking.”
Dominating the starting lineup for the first time since June 24, Clark turned the ball over on the team’s first possession and missed her initial shot attempt but quickly found her footing with two successful shots in the opening quarter.
“It’s just nice to get back out there and get into the flow of playing with my teammates again,” Clark shared. “I don’t know what my minutes will look like, but when I’m out there, I’ll compete and play hard. This team needs to have constant movement, so I’ll focus on being aware, active, and bringing energy. It’s tough to sit out and watch for weeks, but I’m excited to rejoin the play.”
As it stands, Indiana holds a record of 5-5 during Clark’s absence this season and stands at 9-10 overall.
