Caitlin Clark injury update: Holly Rowe reveals latest on WNBA star's rehab progress

Caitlin Clark has missed the Indiana Fever’s last seven games due to a groin injury. Just before halftime of the Fever’s showdown against the Seattle Storm on Sunday, Fever head coach Stephanie White provided ESPN’s Holly Rowe with an update on Clark’s recovery.

“Stephanie White did give us a small update on Caitlin, that she has started some full-court runs,” Rowe said. “So, she’s been running the last four or five days. Still not doing full basketball activities but there’s been some progress made.”

Including the Fever’s game on Sunday, Clark has only played in 13 of the team’s 29 games this season. The Fever are 8-5 when Clark has played this season, compared to 8-7 without her.

Clark is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game. However, she’s struggled to find a shooting rhythm. The former Iowa standout is shooting just 36.7% from the field and 27.9% from beyond the arc this season — significantly worse percentages than her debut campaign last season.

After not playing between June 24 and July 9, Clark returned for four games. Alas, the Fever sidelined her indefinitely after she re-aggravated her injury. The organization released a statement after putting the two-time WNBA All-Star on ice again.

“Following a July 15 injury to her right groin, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark underwent further medical evaluations earlier this week. The team can confirm that no additional injuries or damage were discovered through the evaluations,” the press release read. “Clark will continue working with the Fever medical team on her recovery and rehabilitation, with the priority on her long-term health and well-being.

“There is no timetable available for Clark’s return, and no additional details will be provided at this time. Any further updates will be shared as they become available.”

Evidently, Clark’s growing closer to a return, and the WNBA is likely thankful. The league’s ratings have suffered a substantial drop since Clark’s injury.

Last season, there were 3.44 million viewers for the WNBA All-Star Game. Those ratings dipped 36% to 2.19 million viewers this year with Clark out, per Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. This past week, Clark’s teammate, Sophie Cunningham, called out Clark’s critics.

“It literally, like, pisses me off when people are like, ‘She’s not the face of the league,’” Cunningham said. “What? … There’s really good, well-known people in our league. I’m not discrediting them. We have a lot of badasses in our league. Like, hell yeah to that. I’m all for that.

“But when people try to argue that she’s not the face of our league or our league would be where we’re at without her, you’re dumb as s***. You’re literally dumb as f***.”