Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is still sidelined by a left quadriceps strain sustained on May 24 during a game against the New York Liberty.
As the 2025 WNBA season progresses, Clark missed her fifth consecutive game on Tuesday night as the Fever were defeated 58-77 by Atlanta Dream.
Despite her absence, Clark’s impact is still being felt, with her impressive early-season performance still fresh in the minds of fans and analysts alike.
In the four games she played, Clark averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 9.3 assists, solidifying her status as one of the league’s MVP frontrunners.
Fever head coach Stephanie White addressed her team’s lack of physicality, especially in the absence of Caitlin Clark, as a concern.
“Their physicality on the defensive end really affected us,” White said. “It took us out of what we wanted to do and forced us to rush offensively. They’ve got really good shifty guards that can get downhill and and we didn’t do a good job of guarding our yard or being in rotation.”
Hours before Tuesday’s matchup, the WNBA made a significant announcement: Clark’s backcourt partner, Kelsey Mitchell, had been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Mitchell’s stellar performance helped the Fever remain competitive, even without Clark in the lineup. The guard averaged 20.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over the past week, leading Indiana to a perfect 2-0 record.
The league shared the news on social media, highlighting Mitchell’s exceptional contributions: “For the first time this season, Kelsey Mitchell is named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.”
Mitchell has truly stepped up in Clark’s absence, particularly in the Fever’s victories over the Washington Mystics (85-76) and the Chicago Sky (79-52).
Clark’s response to Mitchell’s achievement was brief but telling. She reposted the announcement on her Instagram story, with no accompanying words, letting the accomplishment speak for itself.
Mitchell, drafted No. 2 overall by the Fever in the 2018 WNBA Draft, has been a staple of the team throughout her career.
This season, she is playing under a one-year, $249,244 contract, the highest salary in the league. Mitchell’s impressive resume includes two WNBA All-Star selections and a place on the All-Rookie Team in her first season.
