Caitlin Clark Out With Groin Injury for Fever's Game vs. Sparks

The Indiana Fever announced guard Caitlin Clark will miss Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Sparks with a left groin injury.

The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year was previously sidelined for five games because of a quad issue.

Fever head coach Stephanie White described Clark's groin injury as a "day-to-day thing." The team had its star undergo an MRI after she said Wednesday night she was experiencing some pain:

Clark's recent performances led some fans to wonder whether she's fully back to 100 percent after the quad injury. She averaged 12 points on just 27.7 percent shooting in Indiana's last three contests.

The 23-year-old being in and out of the lineup adds to a season that hasn't gone according to plan for the Fever.

Nothing symbolizes Indiana's struggles more than DeWanna Bonner, the team's big offseason addition, getting waived before we even hit the halfway mark. The six-time All-Star was supposed to be a key contributor and provide invaluable experience to a squad that's still on the rise. Instead, she was shifted to the second unit following the third game of the year and eventually let go altogether.

The eighth-place Fever are stuck in a tough spot where they obviously need Clark on the court but can't risk rushing her back. The more time she misses, the more they could find themselves mired in the middle of the WNBA standings.