"The belle of the ball can't get out on the dance floor" - Tim MacMahon says the WNBA All-Star weekend loses a lot of its glow after Caitlin Clark's withdrawal
The stage was set for the WNBA to have a memorable All-Star weekend. With the annual hoops shindig being held in Indianapolis, home of the league's most popular player, Caitlin Clark, the excitement was palpable. However, things took a turn for the worse when Clark had to withdraw from the festivities due to an injury.
ESPN's Tim MacMahon commented on the situation, saying the unfortunate development is a huge buzzkill for the league, especially since Caitlin was set to compete in the Three-Point Contest and captain her team in the All-Star Game.
A season riddled by injuries
Many were looking forward to Clark's sophomore campaign after her sensational rookie season, wherein she won the Rookie of the Year award and established herself as one of the league's most dazzling playmakers. Unfortunately, she has been sidelined for nine of the Fever's 22 games this season due to a series of injuries, the most recent being a groin injury sustained during the Indiana Fever's recent victory over the Connecticut Sun.
Due to this, she chose to step back from the All-Star events she was scheduled to participate in this weekend. However, CC confirmed she will still be present to support her team and the league.
On NBA Today, MacMahon didn't mince words, saying Caitlin's absence on the court will take away a lot of excitement and entertainment from the All-Star Game.
"It's a big-time bummer. Obviously, the belle of the ball can't get out on the dance floor, you know, and that — let's be honest — that puts a big-time damp on the whole party," he said.
Former NBA champion Iman Shumpert believes Caitlin and the Fever are making the right decision by prioritizing her rest and recovery. By giving their star player time to heal, they're ensuring she'll be ready to contribute during the critical stretch run after the All-Star weekend.
"I think it's smart," Shump noted. "I think that, you know, you want to play as much basketball as you can. You want to do it at the highest level you can, right? Going back to Indiana and not being able to put on the show that she wants to put on — I can totally understand her decision to want to sit it out."WNBA legend says groin injuries are no joke
WNBA legend Lisa Leslie recently spoke on "We Need to Talk," offering insight into Caitlin's injury. She explained that the only remedy is ample rest — something the Fever star sadly can't afford with the WNBA season in full swing.
"I really feel for Caitlin Clark, because I actually had that injury in 2006," Leslie, a three-time WNBA MVP who's considered one of women's basketball's all-time greats, shared.
"I was heavily taped around my thigh, around my glute. And the hard part is that the groin is an area that you can't just go, 'Oh, it hurts right here.' You feel it deep, you have to get a lot of deep treatment, whether it's ice
and heat and rest," she continued. "Well, Caitlin Clark, she can't find a lot of rest right now because she's midseason."
Leslie explained that it's a deceptive injury — one moment, a player may feel perfectly fine and ready to return to action, but with a single wrong move, the pain can resurface. She explained that this injury is probably a significant reason why Caitlin has struggled to find her rhythm from beyond the arc this season, as she's shooting a hideous 27 percent from long distance.
As much of a fighter Caitlin is, she and the Fever are better off erring on the side of caution and giving her the proper time to heal, even if it comes at the cost of missing a prestigious event like the All-Star game.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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