Caitlin Clark Out with Groin Injury for Fever vs. Aces, HC Talks 'Long-Term Health'

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will sit her team's home game on Thursday evening against the Las Vegas Aces due to a left groin injury that will now sideline her for four straight contests, per ESPN's Alexa Philippou.

Head coach Stephanie White said that Clark is "antsy" to return, but noted the team's plans to remain patient with the injury.

"My goal has always been the same," White told reporters (5:00 in video). "I don't want this to be something that lingers, that we come back too soon. We want to make sure that she is 100 percent ready to go and that we put her long-term health and wellness at the forefront."

The second-year pro, who averages 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, previously missed five games with a left quad strain. Until this year, she had not missed a collegiate or professional contest.

Clark suffered the groin injury during her team's 94-86 road win over the Seattle Storm on with 12 seconds remaining in regulation.

There is hope for an impending return. Clark was a game-time decision for the team's Commissioner's Cup trophy victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday but was ultimately ruled out following a morning shootaround, per Brian Haenchen of the Indianapolis Star.

“Making progress and feeling good are two different things,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “We want to make sure that she feels good. We want to make sure that she's confident. We want to make sure that we're not putting her in a position to have any setbacks. That's the priority right now.”

Clark's next chance to play will be Saturday at home against the Los Angeles Sparks. In the meantime, Aari McDonald is starting in the backcourt for the Fever. The former Arizona star is faring well of late, averaging 12.5 points on 73.3 percent shooting in Indiana's last two games, both wins.