Stephanie White Addresses Caitlin Clark's Injury Status on Tuesday
Stephanie White Addresses Caitlin Clark's Injury Status on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Indiana Fever were in Atlanta on Tuesday night to face the Dream for their third matchup of the 2025 WNBA season, taking the court without reigning Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark.
Advertisement
Clark opened the season strong, appearing in four games and averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game before suffering a left quadriceps strain against the New York Liberty. Including Tuesday night's matchup, Clark has now missed the last five games.
Before flying to Atlanta on Monday, Fever head coach Stephanie White spoke to the media following practice, where Clark was a limited participant, and told them she is ready to start "ramping back up."
And on Tuesday, White was asked to expand on those comments during her pregame media availability before tip-off against the Dream.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark remains sidelined.Brett Davis-Imagn Images
She touched on Clark's need to get "back into game flow, rhythm, timing, movement patterns, getting up and down the floor" before returning to the lineup.
Advertisement
"It's never a one-person decision," White said. "It's certainly meeting with the medical staff and understanding where she is. The most important thing for us is to not position ourselves to have any setbacks. And so what she's been doing is some on-the-court workouts, and she got into a little bit of practice yesterday in a controlled environment, and we'll continue to build on that.
"Getting workouts outside of practice is one thing. Getting back into game flow, rhythm, timing, movement patterns, getting up and down the floor is a completely different thing. So that ramp-up stage is more practice time, and fortunately, we're able to get it this week."
Clark is a pivotal part of this team and entered the season as a contender for WNBA MVP. In the four games without her leading up to Tuesday's matchup, the Fever went 2-2. However, they've found their form lately, with both wins coming in the last two games.
They beat the Washington Mystics 85-76 on June 3 and the Chicago Sky 79-52 on Saturday.
Advertisement
Related: Caitlin Clark Had No Words After WNBA's Big Announcement
Related: Second WNBA Star Targets Commissioner Cathy Engelbert Amid Frustration
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Three-Time WNBA MVP Does Not Hold Back on Caitlin Clark
Three-Time WNBA MVP Does Not Hold Back on Caitlin Clark originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever have yet to provide a firm timetable on Caitlin Clark's return from injury. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year missed her fifth straight game on Tuesday against the Connecticut Sun, which has already gone beyond the initial two-week timetable she was given. Advertisement Nevertheless, Clark has still been able to make waves as she continues to recover from a lingering quadriceps injury. A testament to this fact is how WNBA legend Lauren Jackson sang Clark's praises in a recent interview. "I love her intensity, I love that," Jackson started. "Obviously, she's a young player and still has so much development ahead of her, but I think her smarts, the way she reads the game, the way she passes the ball, the way she shoots the ball, she can get to the basket, change her pace." Based on her comments here, it is clear that the three-time WNBA MVP likes what she sees from Clark thus far. Jackson, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021, went on to express how much admiration she has for the 23-year-old. "I feel like she probably has the pressure of the world on her shoulders and she's still able to get out there and perform unafraid, no fear, just what an athlete," Jackson continued. "Like, I am just so impressed with her and, yeah, how awesome." Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game. Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Jackson--who spent her entire 12-year career with the Seattle Storm, where she won two WNBA championships--also admitted that she has imagined sharing the floor with Clark. Advertisement "I'm a fan," Jackson declared. "Man, I would have loved to have played with her, you know, as a point guard with that much vision and awareness. "Like, I've just never seen anything like it." Jackson is a WNBA legend through and through, and for her to speak so highly about Clark in just her second season in the league says a whole lot. Clark does have her critics, but she's made a fan out of more than a few basketball icons out there. Lauren Jackson is, without a doubt, one of them. Related: WNBA Makes Official Statement on Caitlin Clark in Fever-Sky Game Related: Cameras Catch Caitlin Clark's Serious Exchange With Sophie Cunningham in Fever-Dream Game Related: Fans Notice the Same Thing in New Photo of Caitlin Clark After Unfortunate Injury News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
SMU Lands Game-Changing 2026 Linebacker Izayah Young
SMU Lands Game-Changing 2026 Linebacker Izayah Young originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Sometimes, it takes just one moment to recognize where you belong. For Izayah Young, that moment came when he slipped on an SMU jersey during his official visit. 'The moment I put the uniform on, that's when I knew this is home,' the 2026 San Marcos (Texas) linebacker told On3 Sports after announcing his commitment Monday. And home is exactly what the Mustangs' defense may have just found in the 6-foot, 190-pound prospect who's primed to be a difference-maker in the ACC. Advertisement Young's recruitment was no small feat. He held offers from Baylor, Tennessee, Pitt, and several other Power 4 programs. Yet it was SMU's blend of opportunity, culture, and coaching vision that ultimately won him over during the Pony Express recruiting weekend. 'I had a great time there,' Young said after an earlier visit during spring practice. 'That's a team I definitely want to play for great coaches, great players, and amazing facilities.' He spent valuable 1-on-1 time with head coach Rhett Lashlee, who has been intent on building a defensively stout program to match SMU's explosive offense. But it was linebackers coach Maurice Crum, affectionately known as 'Coach Mo,' who sealed the deal. 'Coach Mo told me I'm a guy he wants on his team,' Young said. 'He wants to develop me into a monster.' Advertisement Young is currently ranked No. 672 nationally, the 53rd linebacker in the country, and No. 99 overall in Texas, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average across all major recruiting services. That puts him among the elite defensive prospects in the Lone Star State. More importantly, Young becomes the second linebacker to join SMU's 2026 class, alongside Markel Dabney out of Virginia. The Mustangs' 2026 recruiting class ranked in the Top 25 nationally even before Young's announcement, a promising sign as SMU gears up for life in the ACC. This isn't just a depth signing, it's a potential cornerstone for SMU's future defense. SMU is building something serious on the Hilltop. With major conference realignment on the horizon and a surge in recruiting momentum, landing a talent like Young doesn't just reflect smart evaluation, it sends a message: The Mustangs aren't backing down from anyone. Advertisement For fans hungry for grit and physicality, Young delivers exactly that. A hard-hitting, instinctual linebacker with sideline-to-sideline range, he's the type of player who thrives in a system designed to let playmakers roam. And now, he's coming to Dallas. Related: SMU Surges to No. 14 in ESPN's Future Power Rankings Related: SMU's Rhett Lashlee Admits the College Football Playoff Made an Error This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Reed Blankenship Sounds Off on Eagles Coach
Reed Blankenship Sounds Off on Eagles Coach originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The impact that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had on the Philadelphia Eagles last season was apparent from the very first practice. Advertisement Fangio's brutal honesty and no-nonsense approach quickly won over the young Eagles defense. The fact that they were able to finish at the top of the league in most categories showed how perfect a match he was for the current roster. Their dominance in Super Bowl LIX was the capper on a brilliant campaign. As the organization prepares for their title defense, the defense has gotten even younger than they were last season. Veteran stars like Darius Slay and James Bradberry have departed the organization for cheaper and younger options. Philadelphia's unit doesn't expect to skip a beat with Fangio coaching them, though. Advertisement "Whatever was said in Miami, that's their locker room. Our locker room is completely different," Eagles safety Reed Blankenship said. "We've got guys that like to be coached and like to be held accountable and obviously that shows on the field. "We're a young group, but we understand if we want to win the big things we've got to be coached hard." The Eagles are perceived across the NFL as boasting a loaded roster and no doubt still have plenty of All-Pro and Pro Bowl talent across each level of their defense. With a coach in Fangio that focuses on teaching, there's no telling how good this group can be in 2025. And Blankenship, taking on more of a leadership role this season, sees exactly that for the Eagles defense. Related: Eagles Running Game Plan Takes New Shape In Roster Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.