Caitlin Clark returns from back issue, posts 22 points and 9 assists for Indiana

Caitlin Clark returned from a back issue on Friday and gave Indiana the kind of line it has come to expect from her — 22 points, nine assists and four 3-pointers in a 90-82 win over the Golden State Valkyries in Indianapolis. Aliyah Boston added 20 points and 16 rebounds, and Kelsey Mitchell scored 19 as the Fever won their third straight game and moved to 4-2. Clark had missed Indiana’s previous game because of back soreness, then said before Friday’s game that getting back on the floor after last season’s injuries had become “a real mental challenge.” The win came at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where Indiana closed an early homestand with another national-TV result. ### How did Clark look in her first game back? Clark played 32 minutes on May 22 and finished 7-for-15 from the field, 4-for-9 from 3-point range and 4-for-5 at the foul line, according to the game box score. She added two rebounds, one steal and one block in a game-high 22-point outing. Indiana’s offense settled after halftime. The Fever trailed 44-37 at the break before turning the game with Clark, Boston and Mitchell carrying the scoring load, according to the team recap and AP’s game report. Sophie Cunningham scored 11 points off the bench. ### What did Clark say about the injury? Clark said before the game that sitting out Wednesday was tied largely to whether she trusted her body, according to AP and ESPN’s pregame reporting. She said returning from injuries has been “a real mental challenge” after a 2025 season in which injuries limited her to 13 games. ESPN reported that Clark framed the issue as more than pain management. She said the decision to miss the Portland game was driven by confidence in how she felt physically, and not wanting to push through something before she was ready. ### Who else carried Indiana in the win? Boston recorded 20 points and 16 rebounds for her 42nd career double-double, according to the Fever’s official recap. (sports.yahoo.com) Mitchell added 19 points and went 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, helping Indiana finish the game after Golden State led by seven late in the second quarter. (tsn.ca) The Fever also got 11 bench points from Cunningham. AP reported that Indiana improved to 4-2, while Golden State fell to 3-2. ### Was there anything notable beyond the box score? Friday’s game included another Clark flashpoint. USA Today’s live coverage reported officials reviewed contact by Clark to a Valkyries defender and assessed a Flagrant 1 while she played with five fouls late in the game. (fever.wnba.com) (abcnews.com) The broader context around Clark’s return had already drawn attention. The Athletic and other outlets reported questions this week about how the Fever handled her injury status, while coach Stephanie White said the team believed it had followed the proper process. ### What does this do to Indiana’s early-season position? (hawkcentral.com) Indiana is 4-2 through six games, according to ESPN’s team schedule and AP’s game report. The three-game winning streak followed a 1-2 start and kept the Fever near the top of the early Eastern Conference standings shown by league trackers. Clark’s scoring has remained steady when available. (nytimes.com) Rotowire’s game log listed Friday’s 22 points, nine assists and 32 minutes in her return, and team coverage described the outing as another sign that Indiana’s core of Clark, Boston and Mitchell is intact. ### When do the Fever see Golden State again? Indiana’s next game is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, at Golden State, according to ESPN’s 2026 Fever schedule and the team’s season schedule release. (espn.com) That game is listed for 10 p.m. ET at Chase Center before Indiana continues its road trip on May 30 at Portland. (rotowire.com)