Caitlin Clark reacts self-ironic to fear of injury

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark gave a self-deprecating response to her injury scare during her team's 84-79 win over the Atlanta Dream on Monday night (August 26).

Clark, 22, lay on the ground in visible pain after spraining her ankle on a defensive play in the first quarter.

“I saw the replay and I look really soft,” Clark said, earning laughter from teammates. Kelsey Mitchell and head coach Christie Pagesduring a joint press conference after the game. “It wasn't such a bad turn of events, but it hurt.”

Clark left the game with 3:06 left in the first quarter, but returned shortly afterward and played a total of 37 minutes. The rookie phenom finished Monday's game with 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, two steals and a block.

Clark, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is currently averaging 18.0 points per game, better than only Mitchell (18.2) among Fever players, and leads the team with 8.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Indiana has won three of its last four games since returning from the WNBA's hiatus, which coincides with the 2024 Paris Olympics, and currently has the league's seventh-best record, which would secure a playoff spot with 10 regular-season games remaining.

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