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There’s just three games left in the WNBA regular season, and the Indiana Fever’s playoff hopes rest on a strong finish down the stretch.
The Fever currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot, but they’re only 1.5 games ahead of the Los Angeles Sparks. If L.A. wins out and Indiana doesn’t win at least two of its final three games, the Fever would be watching the postseason from home like everyone else.
The problem for Indiana, however, is that it can’t seem to keep plyers healthy for long.
Star guard Caitlin Clark hasn’t played since July 15 due to a groin injury. She also suffered an ankle injury while she was rehabbing, sidelining her for even longer. It’s unclear what kind of timeline the team has for her to return.
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Beyond Clark, three other Fever guards — Sophie Cunningham (leg), Sydney Colson (torn ACL), and Aari McDonald (broken foot) — are out for the year after suffering season-ending injuries.
Then on Thursday, the Fever announced that forward Chloe Bibby was lost for the season with a knee injury and that they’d signed fan-favorite Bree Hall to a contract for the rest of the season.
And while Hall’s addition is likely just to replace Bibby’s spot in the lineup, some Fever fans on social media are convinced the move actually signals that Clark won’t be back until at least the start of the playoffs, if at all.
“So this seals the deal on CC coming back this year. Pack it up,” one fan wrote.
“When are you going to be honest with the fans and let us know CC is out for the season????” a second replied.
“CC is not coming back, bet!😓,” a third fan replied.
“See you next May @CaitlinClark22,” remarked one user.
“lol just stop dangling the CC carrot…shameful,” scoffed another.
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With the playoffs a little more than a week away, it’s likely the Fever hold Clark out until then, even if she were ready to come back right now.
Indiana’s next two games against the Chicago Sky (Sept. 5) and Washington Mystics (Sept. 7) are both winnable without Clark, and if the team did sneak into the postseason, it would need Clark at close to full strength to make any sort of run.
In the 13 games she’s played this season, Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, has averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
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