Caitlin Clark leaves Fever’s loss with a back injury, doesn’t return after 3rd-quarter scare

Key Points:

• Caitlin Clark exited the Indiana Fever’s 111-109 loss to Phoenix early in the third quarter due to a recurring back injury, which has affected her throughout the season.
• Clark appeared to aggravate her back in the second quarter after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, leading her to leave the game with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter and not return.
• The game continued a physical trend from their previous matchup, which featured six technical fouls and one ejection; Clark was involved in an incident where Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas appeared to strike her neck, though no foul was called.
• Fever coach Stephanie White condemned the lack of a foul call on the incident, calling it "absolutely unacceptable," and the league may review the play for a flagrant foul.
• Clark finished the game with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes, despite her injury, and the Fever are petitioning the league to rescind her fifth technical foul from the previous game.