Caitlin Clark ruled out of Fever game

Caitlin Clark was ruled out of the Indiana Fever’s May 20 home game against the Portland Fire with a back injury, the team announced shortly before tipoff. The late scratch came after Clark had not appeared on the team’s injury report the previous day, according to multiple reports. Indiana still beat Portland 90-73 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with Aliyah Boston back in the starting lineup and leading the Fever with 24 points. The timing of Clark’s status change quickly became part of the story, alongside the injury itself. ### How late was the decision on Clark? The Fever announced Clark was out about two hours before Wednesday’s game, CBS Sports reported, while USA Today said the designation came a little more than 90 minutes before tipoff. USA Today and CBS Sports both reported that Clark had not been listed on Indiana’s injury report the day before the game. That made the change notable for a nationally watched early-season matchup and prompted immediate questions about when the team first identified the issue. (cbssports.com) ### What injury did Indiana give for the absence? The Fever listed a back injury as the reason Clark did not play against Portland on May 20. ESPN, via a local affiliate repost, reported that Clark woke up Wednesday with stiffness and soreness in her back. That description matters because it suggests the problem emerged, or at least worsened, on game day rather than after a previously disclosed in-game incident. (usatoday.com) Neither the Fever nor Clark, in the reports reviewed, provided a longer-term timetable on Wednesday. ### Who filled the gap for Indiana? (usatoday.com) Aliyah Boston returned to Indiana’s starting lineup against Portland, USA Today reported before the game. Her return gave the Fever one regular frontcourt anchor back even as Clark was unavailable in the backcourt. Boston then scored 24 points with eight rebounds in Indiana’s 90-73 victory, according to game coverage and box-score reporting. (usatoday.com) Kelsey Mitchell added 21 points, and Lexie Hull scored 16 as Indiana handled Portland without Clark. ### Why did the injury report timing draw attention? Sports Illustrated reported that the late designation raised questions about the Fever’s handling of Clark’s injury status and whether the WNBA could examine the sequence. That framing centered on procedure, not just Clark’s health. The core issue is straightforward: Clark is one of the league’s biggest draws, and teams are expected to report player availability accurately and on time. (usatoday.com) Reports from CBS Sports and USA Today established that Clark was not on the previous day’s injury report and was then ruled out close to tipoff. ### What is known about Clark’s status now? (msn.com) As of Thursday, May 21, the publicly reported update is limited to the back injury that kept Clark out of Wednesday’s game. No verified report reviewed here gave a firm return date or said she would miss additional games. Indiana’s next formal clue will likely come on its next injury report and in comments from coach Stephanie White or the team before its next game. (cbssports.com) For now, the confirmed facts are that Clark missed the May 20 game with a back issue, Boston returned to start, and the Fever beat Portland by 17 points. (usatoday.com)