Fever star Caitlin Clark ruled out for game vs. Aces with groin injury, marking 4th straight missed game

Caitlin Clark isn’t quite ready to take the floor again.

The Indiana Fever star was officially ruled out of Thursday’s matchup with the Las Vegas Aces due to a left groin injury, the team announced on Wednesday. It will mark Clark’s fourth straight missed game, and her ninth missed game this season. She had missed five straight earlier in the season due to a left quad strain.

It’s unclear when Clark will make her return, though Fever coach Stephanie White doesn’t seem like she’s in a rush.

"My goal has always been the same," White said Wednesday, via ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. "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% ready to go and that we put her long-term health and wellness at the forefront."

Clark has averaged 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5 rebounds per game this season. She was questionable for Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup championship game, but she was ruled out ahead of time.

Despite not having Clark available, the Fever still rolled to a dominant 74-59 win over the Minnesota Lynx. Natasha Howard was named the Commissioner’s Cup MVP after the win, too. She had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in the upset win.

"[Clark] wants to play and she's working to play and she has been working to play," White said, via ESPN. "And I think after a few days, it's like, 'OK, we've got a little bit of time' — I think it's five games before All-Star break — so let's just ease her mind even though she's antsy and let's do this the right way and make sure we're ready to go and 100% when she comes back."

The Fever hold an 8-8 record, and have won three of their last four games, heading into Thursday’s matchup with the Aces. That marks the start of a five-game homestand ahead of the All-Star break later this month, which is also set for Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.