Caitlin Clark presumably took another step closer to returning from the groin injury that's sidelined her since July 15, participating in the Indiana Fever's shootaround on Sunday.
Clark still hasn't officially returned to practice, according to head coach Stephanie White. And she is out for Sunday's game versus the Minnesota Lynx. But this was the first time she was able to take part in drills for more than a month.
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"It was a good step, because she got out there on the floor with us for the first time, part of the sort of return to activity thing," White said, via the Indianapolis Star's Chloe Peterson.
"But it was all very low, low-maintenance, you know, 5-on-0 low intensity stuff," she added. "So I think just getting her back out there, getting her comfortable, and see where she goes."
During the 15 minutes of shootaround in which media were allowed to observe, she participated in dynamic warmups with the team, then as White said, worked with Indiana's reserves in a low impact, non-contact drill, Peterson reports.
A Fever spokesperson said that Clark progressing from individual workouts and taking part in shootaround is part of her regimen to return to play.
Indiana has seven games remaining on its regular-season schedule after Sunday's game. The team currently holds the No. 6 seed in the WNBA standings at 19-17 and is in position to make the playoffs.
However, Sophie Cunningham (torn MCL), Sydney Colson (torn ACL) and Aari McDonald (fractured bone in foot) have all sustained season-ending injuries recently. With the Fever missing three additional guards along with Clark, the question is whether or not the team can realistically compete in the postseason. And if not, is it worth playing Clark or is it better to hold her out until next season when she's fully healthy.
Clark has missed the Fever's past 14 games, only playing in 13 this season due to injury. In addition to her groin injury, she also suffered a bone bruise in her left ankle during a workout on Aug. 7. Clark also sat out for five games earlier in the season with a quad strain.
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