Caitlin Clark Ruled Out Against Sparks as Season Slump Deepens

A Star Guard Benched Again

Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark will not play in their upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks, marking her sixth absence of the 2025 WNBA season due to a left hip injury Reuters+15Wikipedia+15Yardbarker+15. The team confirmed the news via a tweet on Thursday morning:

“Tonight’s status: Caitlin Clark – OUT (left hip injury)” athlonsports.com+1.

This comes after a rocky start to Clark’s sophomore WNBA season, her first time missing games since high school.

Injury Trouble Continues

Clark first sat out five games due to a left quadriceps strain after suffering the injury on May 24 versus the Liberty. A breakthrough return June 14 brought hope, only for her to suffer a left groin strain on June 26, followed by a right groin injury in mid‑July during the finals of Indiana’s Commissioner’s Cup SB NationWikipedia+2Yardbarker+2.
As of July 24, Fever officials announced further testing revealed no additional damage, but they provided no timeline for Clark’s return bleacherreport.com+8athlonsports.com+8clutchpoints.com+8.

Head coach Stephanie White reaffirmed a “long game” approach:

“It’s day‑to‑day right now… prioritizing her long‑term health over rushing back” SB Nation+11Yardbarker+11bleacherreport.com+11Outlook India+9bleacherreport.com+9bleacherreport.com+9.

Struggles on the Stat Sheet

With Clark sidelined, Fever fans have watched her sophomore numbers dip drastically. Through 13 games played, she’s averaging 16.5 PPG, 8.8 APG, and 5.0 RPG, but her efficiency has declined: 36.7% FG and 27.9% 3PT—and her turnovers per game are up near 5.9, raising red flags clutchpoints.com+1.

One standout rough outing came against the Seattle Storm: just 6 points on 3-of-13 shooting, paired with 8 turnovers—a rare triple-digit low that summed up her inconsistency this year Talksport.

How the Fever Have Adapted

Despite Clark’s absence, Indiana’s season hasn’t collapsed. The Fever have relied on depth and smart rotations, signing Chloe Bibby to a hardship 7-day contract to beef up the wing rotation clutchpoints.com+5SI+5SB Nation+5. Stars like Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell have carried the scoring load, while Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Howard, Aari McDonald, and others helped stabilize the roster Wikipedia+6SB Nation+6bleacherreport.com+6.

The result? A competitive 12–12 record (sixth in the East), fueled by a five-game win streak even without their marquee player SB Nationbleacherreport.com.

The Broader Picture: Pressure on and off the Court

Caitlin Clark’s impact extends well beyond the hardwood. She led WNBA All-Star voting with over 1.29 million votes, highlighting her league-wide influence bleacherreport.com+12Wikipedia+12Wikipedia+12. But her off-court fame also comes with scrutiny: Sophie Cunningham recently pushed back hard, calling critics “dumb as f—” and pointing out how Clark elevated WNBA viewership—including a record 2.7 million viewers for a single game Reuters.

Yet, with the Fever’s form faltering and her prolonged absence, fans and media alike are questioning what’s next for Indiana’s season.

Clark’s Perspective

Clark recently spoke candidly about her slump and injuries, expressing sadness at missing the All-Star game and three-point contest—both held in her hometown of Indianapolis—and emphasizing her need to rest her body Talksport+3Wikipedia+3New York Post+3. She admitted the break has been emotionally difficult and affirmed her focus on rehab and holistic recovery athlonsports.combleacherreport.com.

What’s Next for the Fever?

Indiana’s upcoming schedule includes back-to-back games against the Sparks and Dallas Wings—without the benefit of rest days for Clark or the team. With no timeline for return, the coaching staff appears intent on continuing a cautious, developmental rehab plan rather than pushing for an early comeback bleacherreport.comYardbarker.

How the Fever fare through this stretch could define their playoff outlook—and shape whether they can still contend if Clark returns healthy down the stretch