Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark addressed public scrutiny and rejected inaccurate online narratives during a pregame press conference on Friday, May 22, in Indianapolis before returning to action against the Golden State Valkyries following a one-game absence due to a back injury.
The league issued a warning to the Indiana Fever for failing to disclose that the guard would miss the previous game against the Portland Fire on Wednesday, May 20.
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Clark was officially ruled out just 100 minutes before tipoff.
"Tuesday, I was here (at Gainbridge Fieldhouse). I got treatment, as I've done many practices before.
As many of my teammates have done," said Caitlin Clark.
According to Fever head coach Stephanie White, the guard did not participate in practice on Tuesday.
White later described the injury as back soreness, noting that the medical staff would handle additional updates.
"I had every intention of playing. Didn't indicate I wasn't gonna play.
Approached Wednesday, that was the day of our game, as (if) I was 100 percent playing. Woke up Wednesday, felt a little sore.
Texted our training staff, texted my personal physio," said Caitlin Clark.
The Indiana Fever publicized her absence on X at 5:20 p. m.
on Wednesday, followed by an official WNBA injury report update at 5:30 p. m.
Clark expressed frustration with online commentary regarding the exact timing of her status update.
"You want to know what I ate for breakfast, too?" asked Caitlin Clark.
