Caitlin Clark to miss WNBA All-Star Game and 3-point contest because of groin injury
The 2025 WNBA All-Star game will be held in Indianapolis for the first time in league history, with Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell selected to represent the Indiana Fever, tying the Seattle Storm for the most All-Star representatives this year. The untimely injury, however, has thrown a wrench into things.
"I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can't participate in the 3-Point contest or the All-Star Game. I have to rest my body." Clark said. "I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I'm looking forward to helping Sandy (Liberty coach Brondello) coach our team to a win."
Fever head coach Stephanie White said "Caitlin and her team" ultimately made the decision to prioritize her long-term health after missing 11 total games with various injuries, including a left groin injury and left quad strain.
Clark was set to be the centerpiece of the All-Star weekend in Indianapolis. She was named a captain after receiving the most fan votes and drafted teammates Boston (starter) and Mitchell (reserve) to her team. Clark said they planned on making this "the best All-Star that the WNBA has ever had," but she will now be cheering on her team from the sidelines as they face Team Napheesa Collier.
WNBA ALL-STAR GAME PLAYERS: Full rosters for Team Clark and Team Collier
"It's a big deal for us to have All-Star in Indianapolis, of course with Caitlin being a focal point of all that," White said on Thursday. "As the coach of the Indiana Fever, it's not a bigger deal than our long-term season."
What happened?
Clark appeared to injure her groin in the final minute of the Fever's 85-77 win over the Sun on Tuesday in Boston. After a bounce pass to Kelsey Mitchell for a layup with 39.1 seconds remaining, Clark held the inside of her right thigh before walking over and banging her head against the stanchion in apparent frustration. Clark walked to the Fever bench, where she put a towel over her head.
White confirmed Clark "felt a little something in her groin." She was subsequently ruled out of the Fever's road matchup against the New York Liberty on Wednesday.
'The most important thing for us is to keep her upbeat, continue to support her and let her know we got her back and let her know we're going to go battle for her,' White said. "Being injured and continuing to have setbacks is frustrating. Mentally, emotionally."
Who will replace Caitlin Clark?
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert selected replacements for Clark and Phoenix Mercury star Satou Sabally (ankle) on Thursday, July 17. Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes and Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones were added to the Team Clark roster.
Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride was added as a replacement for the Dream's Rhyne Howard earlier this week. Howard, who was selected to Team Collier, suffered a left knee injury during the Dream's July 11 game against the Fever. The Dream have since confirmed that she will be sidelined through the remainder of July.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark won't play in WNBA All-Star Game. Latest injury update
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Column: A modest proposal to cure the Chicago Cubs' ills — pocket pancakes
While Chicago Cubs fans were in turmoil Friday night, White Sox fans performed the wave. It was late in the Sox's 9-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, a game that was over in the first inning when starter Aaron Civale put the Sox in a quick 5-0 hole. The wave, of course, is a 1980s cookie-cutter stadium tradition that mostly has been eradicated in baseball. But it's making a comeback with Gen Z, and Sox Park was ripe for a release from the boredom of a poorly played game between a last-place Sox team and a pseudo-wild-card contender from Cleveland. No matter your feelings on the wave, the vibe at the ballpark was convivial, a party interrupted by some bad baseball. No one goes to a Sox game expecting much, so fans have to create their own fun. That has been standard operating procedure since 2022, and until the Sox start winning again, it's here to stay. Former Sox announcer Harry Caray repeatedly bellowed 'You can't beat fun at the old ballpark,' which is code for 'Come out and watch our bad team.' We had a different kind of fun in the 1970s, but ignoring the team's play and enjoying a nice summer evening are what bind generations of South Siders. While Sox fans deal with the losing in stride, Cubs fans are having a difficult time keeping their sanity during a recent downturn in the season. The Cubs beat the Cardinals 9-1 on Saturday but remained five games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, who are doing a near-perfect imitation of the 1969 New York Mets, that fateful team that put daily pressure on the '69 Cubs by never losing. (Google it, kids). The Cubs still were tied for third-best record in the National League on Saturday but look more and more like a wild-card team. After spending nearly four months in first place and having a 6½-game lead in June 17, the hitting stopped stone cold since the All-Star break. Regression was expected, of course, but not from almost the entire lineup at the same time. We know this team can hit because we've seen it. They were lauded for creating offense in adverse conditions in April and May, for providing power on normal days and using their speed when necessary. But the late-season collapse under David Ross in 2023 and the offensive funk under Craig Counsell in the first half of '24 are still fresh in the minds of otherwise rational Cubs fans. Speaking of which, David Kaplan, ESPN-1000 radio personality and original member of the Fraternal Order of Outraged Fans, (FOOF), declared on his YouTube channel that the Cubs were 'pathetic' and 'embarrassing' in Friday's 5-0 loss in St. Louis. Kaplan added he has 'NO HOPE' of the Cubs turning things around and also castigated general manager Carter Hawkins for doing whatever it is Carter Hawkins does, bypassing President Jed Hoyer in the blame game. When you've lost Kaplan, you've lost all angry Cubs fans with podcasts, blogs, YouTube channels and verified X accounts, which is to say 90% of Cubs fans. This is serious stuff. So how can the Cubs rebound from this perceived nightmare? Can they avoid going down in history alongside the 1977 Cubs, the Herman Franks-led team that had an 8½ game lead on June 29, spent 2½ months in first place and somehow melted down from 25 games over .500 to finish at 81-81? It's going to take a return to the collective offensive approach of the first four months, and perhaps some added urgency on the part of Counsell, whose solution thus far has been to play new utility man Willi Castro every day in a different position, giving his starters a rest. Castro was a nice pickup and already leads the team in the category of caps falling off head while running the bases. But he's no Ben Zobrist. Counsell seemingly is reluctant to give his stars anything more than a 'mental' break. Could he eventually sit Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, Pete-Crow Armstrong or Dansby Swanson for a stretch? Suzuki entered Saturday hitting .177 since the break with a .290 slugging percentage. Swanson had the fourth-worst strikeout percentage since the break at 38.9%, while Crow-Armstrong ranked 10th (33.3%) and Busch 12th (32.9%). That's a ton of noncontact from the Cubs' best hitters, and we haven't even mentioned Kyle Tucker's prolonged slump. Counsell is not the problem, but he's paid a lot of money to fix the problems. Someone asked the manager last week if his players picked up on him being 'super focused,' which, unbeknownst to me, is Counsell's apparent super power. 'That's part of my job, and frankly that's what you're going to get if you're going to be yourself,' he replied. 'Do it as yourself. It's good if they're picking up on that. That's what I'm going to offer.' While Counsell's super focus is under video review, Brewers manager Pat Murphy is busy stuffing pancakes in his pockets and pulling them out for midgame snacks. They've pancaked opponents since the eccentricity was revealed. This is the kind of genius that makes Cubs fans envious and why it's going to be a long winter for Counsell and Hoyer if this team doesn't pull out of its funk and makes a quick postseason exit. Pocket pancakes, meanwhile, are now being offered at the concessions at American Family Field for Brewers fans not worried about having syrup in their clothes, which is to say 90% of Brewers fans. Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney would kill for a chance to charge Cubs fans $20, plus tax, for a pancake. And at this point, nothing should be off the table for the Cubs as they try to shake off the malaise. So here's a modest proposal for Counsell — find a suitable filling for your empty pockets to get the Cubs back on track. What would it hurt? The FOOFs thank you in advance.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Panthers film review: Rookies flash in preseason opener against Browns
Carolina Panthers fans got just the second full look at their team this summer on Friday night, when they hosted the Cleveland Browns for the preseason opener. And now, it's time to get a second peek at that second look. With the NFL finally returning to some real in-game action, we took a dive into the All-22 film for some lessons from the 30-10 defeat. While sloppy at times, the Panthers proved to be a physical squad—bringing their effort despite the not-so-successful results. We also learned a few things about a few notable players. Here are a handful of key takeaways from the film . . . Bobby Brown III could be a huge piece in 2025 Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero had operated without a true nose tackle during his previous two years in Carolina. That has changed, now that the Panthers have added former Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Bobby Brown III. The 6-foot-4, 332-pounder should end up being a significant upgrade for this Panthers defense, which allowed a league-worst (by far) 179.8 rushing yards per contest in 2024. He has the ability to take on double teams and can be effective on passing downs, as evidenced by his team-high five pressures on Friday. Brown showed his power, quickness and penetration skills throughout the contest . . . #Panthers needed a true NT, and made one of my favorite signings in FA by adding Bobby Brown III. He flashed against Cleveland what he could bring to the table this take on dbls; long, powerful, massive human; impressive array of initial moves to win. Austin Corbett has the lead in the center battle The battle for the starting center job between Austin Corbett and Cade Mays may be the biggest one of all in Carolina this summer. And on Friday, Corbett showed why he's currently listed as the first-stringer. Corbett may have already returned to form after missing 12 games last season due to a biceps injury. He was consistent at resetting his hands and base when needed, anchoring well to stonewall interior rushes. Mays is a good mover for his size and will bully defenders as he so chooses. There were some instances where he contained stunt/twist games up front, with emphasis on anchoring and hand placement. However, there were times when defenders succeeded in attacking his outside shoulder, and he lost a rep or two in the process. This should be a competitive fight to the end, but Corbett has the lead and may not look back. Nic Scourton flashes potential 2025 third-round pick Nic Scourton shined, eating up space with quickness and impressive movement skills in the open field. There were times when he played out of control in his rushes, but he still brought consistent pressure off the edge. The rookie outside linebacker displays outstanding effort and pursuit ability, as evidenced by his chase-down sack of Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. While there will be a learning curve for the soon-to-be 21-year-old, the explosiveness and power from Scourton already translates. It's fun watch Nic Scourton's power and explosiveness. Like most rookies, there's room for improvement. With Scourton, playing with more control to reset is key. However, there's plenty to like from the #Panthers 2nd round pick. Dan Morgan's latest undrafted gem Former Louisville cornerback Corey Thornton has been one of the standout rookies in Panthers training camp this summer. He's really forced himself into the forefront over the past week, filling in for starter Jaycee Horn both at Fan Fest and in this exhibition outing. Thornton has good size and length at 6-foot-1 and possesses the physical temperament that could be helpful in man-to-man looks. He is physical in coverage, especially press-man, though some false steps cost him at times. One of the highlights of the night came off an end-around by Cleveland in the second quarter—where Thornton accelerated downhill, came to balance, then picked up and threw the ball carrier to the ground. #Panthers UDFA and former Louisville CB Corey Thornton is quickly becoming a winner from training camp/ good size and length. Plays physical in all aspects. Adequate closing/recovery room for growth. Let's see how he does the rest of the way. Quick hitters Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Today in Boston Celtics history: Clark, Doll born; Harangody, Davis sign; Smith, Cohen pass
Today in Boston Celtics history, Boston big alum Bob Doll was born in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Doll, both a center and power forward for Boston, played his NCAA ball at the University of Colorado, where he won the Most Valuable Player award for the 1940 National Invitational Tournament. Instead of making the leap directly to the NBA, Doll played multiple years in the Amateur Athletic Union after his time with Colorado before joining the (defunct) St. Louis Bombers in their (and the BAA's) first-ever season of existence, 1946, where he played two seasons. He signed with the Celtics as a free agent in 1948, playing another two seasons for the team. The 6-foot-5 Coloradan averaged 7.3 points and 2.4 assists per game with Boston (rebounds had yet to be tabulated). It is also the birthday of former Boston guard Carlos Clark, born this day in 1960 in Somerville, Tennessee. Clark played his NCAA ball at Ole Miss, from which he was drafted by the Celtics with the 91st pick of the 1983 NBA Draft (there were several more rounds to the draft in that era). Clark played two seasons in a deep reserve role with Boston between 1983 and 1985, winning a title with the team in 1984. He would average 2.4 points per game as a member of the Celtics before moving on to a successful overseas career. It is also the date in 2009 that the team re-signed big man Glen Davis to a two-year, $6.5 million contract. 'Glen has been a big part of our success for the past two years, and we are very excited to have him back,' said Danny Ainge via a release from the team. Davis spent 4 seasons with the Celtics, over which he averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, winning a title with the team in 2008. One year later in 2010, the team waived veteran forward Rasheed Wallace on this date after agreeing to a buyout so the UNC product could retire. Wallace had played 79 games for the Celtics the previous season, logging 9 points, 4.1 boards, an assist, and a steal per contest with Boston. The same thing would happen to Zoran Dragic a half-decade later in 2015, with the lesser-known Dragic brother having recently been dealt to Boston earlier that week. Dragic never suited up for Boston, of course, with his entire Celtics tenure taking place in the offseason. Boston big man Luke Harangody signed on this day in 2010 after being selected 52nd overall by the Celtics in that year's NBA Draft. The Notre Dame product played just 28 games with Boston before being traded with Semih Erden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for draft assets, averaging 2.3 points and 2 rebounds per game. We lost Celtics shooting guard Derek Smith in 1996 at the very young age of 34, suffering a massive heart attack on a cruise just five years after retiring as a player. That last stop was with Boston, where he recorded 2.5 points and as many assists per game with the Celtics over just two contests — rest in peace. It is also the date we lost former Celtics owner Allan N. Cohen in 2004. Cohen purchased the team along with his ownership group partners Don Gaston and Paul Dupree in 1983 and remained part of that ownership group until 1993. Cohen also served as chairman of the NBA Board of Governors and was instrumental in the creation of the salary cap. Rest in peace.
