WNBA issues warning to Indiana for omitting Caitlin Clark from injury report

The WNBA issued the Indiana Fever a warning on Thursday after Caitlin Clark was left off the team’s injury report before being ruled out of Wednesday’s game with back soreness, according to the league and multiple media reports. Clark was scratched shortly before Indiana’s home game against the Portland Fire on May 20. The Fever went on to beat Portland 90-73 without her. (wnba.com) By Thursday, Clark had returned to the injury report as probable for Friday’s game against the Golden State Valkyries in Indianapolis. (usatoday.com) ### How did the reporting issue unfold? May 20 became the focus because Clark was not initially listed on Indiana’s injury report before she was ruled out with back soreness ahead of tipoff. The WNBA confirmed to The Associated Press that the Fever received a warning for not reporting the injury sooner. ESPN and other outlets reported the league reviewed the matter after the late scratch. Tuesday’s practice also drew attention. ESPN reported that Clark missed practice the day before the Portland game even though she was not on that day’s injury report, adding to questions about the team’s disclosure timeline. (apnews.com) ### What do the WNBA’s injury-report rules require? The WNBA’s published injury-report policy says teams must report injuries, illnesses, other medical conditions or rest for all games. By 5 p.m. local time on the day before a game, teams must designate a participation status and identify a specific reason for any player whose availability may be affected, according to the league’s injury-report page. (apnews.com) The policy also lays out game-day update windows, including overnight and morning reports in Eastern Time. The rule is designed to require advance disclosure when a player’s status could change, rather than waiting until shortly before tipoff. (sports.yahoo.com) That interpretation is based on the wording of the league’s public policy and the warning confirmed Thursday. ### Did the Fever face a fine or only a warning? Thursday’s action was a warning. The Associated Press reported the league confirmed that Indiana received a warning, and reports from CBS Sports and other outlets said the Fever were not fined in this instance. (wnba.com) New York was the location cited in the AP report confirming the league’s action. The WNBA did not announce a broader disciplinary measure in the material reviewed Thursday. (wnba.com) ### What is Clark’s status now? Thursday’s updated injury report listed Clark as probable with a back injury for Friday’s game against Golden State. USA Today, Yahoo Sports and local Indiana television outlet WTHR all reported the same designation. (apnews.com) Indiana is 3-2 entering the Valkyries game, according to reports previewing Friday’s matchup. Clark missed only the Portland game, and the Fever’s next scheduled contest is against Golden State at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (usnews.com) ### Who stepped up when Clark sat out? Aliyah Boston scored 24 points and Kelsey Mitchell added 21 in Indiana’s 90-73 win over Portland on Wednesday, according to multiple reports on the game and the injury controversy. (usatoday.com) The result allowed the Fever to avoid a second straight loss while Clark was sidelined. Friday’s next step is straightforward. Caitlin Clark is listed as probable for the Fever’s home game against the Golden State Valkyries, and the league’s injury-report process will again put Indiana’s disclosures under scrutiny before tipoff. (hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com) (sports.yahoo.com) (cbssports.com)