Caitlin Clark leaves with injury, marring the mood in Boston game

BOSTON (AP) — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark left Tuesday evening’s recreation within the ultimate minute holding again tears after grabbing at her leg — an obvious damage that may be her third this season.

Clark walked again downcourt holding her proper groin after helping on the Fever’s ultimate basket of an 85-77 victory over the Connecticut Solar in entrance of a sold-out crowd of 19,156 on the TD Backyard in Boston. As teammate Aliyah Boston tried to console her, Clark walked to the basket stanchion and banged her head towards it earlier than heading to the bench. In the course of the timeout, she coated her head with a towel and seemed to be holding again tears.

“No replace. Simply felt slightly one thing in her groin,” Fever coach Stephanie White stated after the sport. “We’ll get it evaluated and see what occurs from there.”

Clark, who has already missed 9 video games this season for 2 separate left leg accidents, struggled together with her taking pictures within the uncommon WNBA recreation on the residence of the Celtics and Bruins, scoring 14 factors whereas making 4 of 14 photographs. She dedicated 5 turnovers and made her solely 3-pointer in seven tries with simply three minutes left, giving the Fever a nine-point lead that was their largest of the sport.

The second-year phenom was not out there to reporters after the sport. The Fever have been scheduled to play the New York Liberty on Wednesday evening on the Barclays Heart — their second straight recreation in an NBA area.

“Definitely we’ll have one other analysis, in all probability a dialog, and we’ll see the place we’re,” White stated. “However this group has performed with out her. Not less than we’ve bought expertise in that.”

Clark’s struggles didn’t dampen the temper for the followers who stuffed the Backyard to see New England’s solely WNBA crew play in Boston for the second 12 months in a row. Each have been sellouts — the largest crowds to see a basketball recreation within the constructing’s historical past.

And this 12 months, it was the visiting Indiana Fever and their breakout star that the majority of them have been there to see.

“It’s an amazing alternative for individuals within the metropolis, or followers across the space, to come back and assist a crew right here,” Clark stated earlier than the sport. “You don’t take these alternatives as a right. It’s all the time enjoyable to go to a brand new area in a brand new place and luxuriate in it.”

Followers sporting Clark’s No. 22 crowded towards the court docket earlier than the sport attempting to get her autograph, waving her jersey or selfmade indicators begging for a selfie. Amongst these in attendance have been Celtics Jaylen Brown and Georges Niang, Bruins Jeremy Swayman and Mason Lohrei, Purple Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.

Clark added seven assists and eight rebounds for the Fever, who pulled away within the fourth quarter. She dedicated one in all her turnovers on the Fever’s first possession and one other when she stepped on the sideline on the finish of the third quarter — guarded too carefully to launch one in all her emblem 3-pointers.

Clark stated earlier than the sport that she took time to understand the chance to play in a constructing the place a lot basketball lore had been written. The Iowa native stated she grew up respecting the Celtics as a company, though she now counts herself an Indiana Pacers fan.

“The Celtics are one of many premier organizations of the NBA,” she stated. “And having gained a championship two years in the past now, it’s sort of cool to only be on this constructing and encompass your self with the greatness that has performed on this area.”

The Celtics gained all of it in 2024 taking pictures an NBA document variety of 3-pointers — one thing Clark, whose long-distance taking pictures made her a breakout star for the Hawkeyes and in her first two years within the WNBA, might respect.

“I’m a Pacers fan. I simply wish to make that clear. However as I’ve been rising up, they’ve been a enjoyable crew to root for,” she stated. “They’re actually enjoyable to observe. They shoot a number of 3s, which possibly individuals make an argument towards. However for myself, I believe that’s enjoyable. I take pleasure in that. I believe it’s an amazing model of basketball.”

Clark stated she had by no means been to Boston and would have appreciated to soak up a Purple Sox recreation at Fenway Park, however baseball is off for the All-Star break.

“It looks as if a tremendous metropolis,” she stated. “I’d love to come back again right here and discover slightly bit extra within the historical past of it and all of the superb issues that you are able to do.”

That might be some time, as a result of the town that’s residence to an unprecedented 18 NBA championships doesn’t have a crew within the WNBA; the Solar are the league’s sole consultant in New England, the birthplace of basketball.

Boston, a three-time Massachusetts Participant of the Yr whereas at Worcester Academy earlier than successful an NCAA championship at South Carolina, stated she believed her namesake city might assist a WNBA crew.

“While you have a look at the ambiance for the Celtics, once you have a look at the ambiance for the 2 TD Backyard video games that now we’ve had, it’s been bought out. It’s been power,” she stated. “They clearly have been nice, and I believe that’s going to be the identical on a regular basis.”

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball