Thus far in Caitlin Clark’s WNBA career with the Indiana Fever, she has had some struggles adjusting to the professional level. And unfortunately, things didn’t get much easier for her in her fourth WNBA game on Monday against the Connecticut Sun when she suffered a worrying injury that forced her off the floor.
Clark’s first three games have shown some positive signs, but also some very concerning issues. Perhaps her biggest struggle has been with controlling the basketball, frequently turning it over throughout her first three games.
Her first WNBA game was Clark’s worst game in terms of controlling the basketball, recording ten turnovers, a WNBA record for the most of any debuting player in league history.
It’s obviously very early in Clark’s WNBA career, too early to make any sort of conclusion about what kind of professional career she will have. But if she is going to become the star that the league desperately needs, she will need to make some big improvements.
Unfortunately, fans didn’t see too many of those improvements on Monday, which wasn’t even really Clark’s fault. In the second quarter of Monday’s game, Clark suffered a nasty-looking ankle injury while attempting to fight through a screen, which forced her to miss the rest of the first half.
Caitlin Clark suffers an ankle injury and heads to the locker room.pic.twitter.com/5RsqCz54rn
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 20, 2024
Naturally, fans were a bit concerned once they saw Clark hit the floor and instantly grab for her ankle.
Caitlin Clark suffered an apparent ankle injury.
Prayers up. 🙏
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 20, 2024
“Caitlin Clark is heading to the locker room with a twisted ankle” pic.twitter.com/eb9Wli2QLe
— Mikey O’ver (@MikeyOver1) May 20, 2024
Caitlin Clark is headed to the Locker Room with an Apparent Ankle Injury🙏
Limped away after a mis-step prior to hitting the screen. #IndianaFever pic.twitter.com/5hyCPatp12
— TWSN (@TWSN___) May 20, 2024
Caitlin Clark, trying to pull up before running into a screen, just turned her left ankle over the top, toe down … ESPN reporting it was already bothering her … at least she was able to walk off … got retaped. Apparently preparing to play again.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 20, 2024
This obviously put some doubt into whether fans would even see her in the second half. But luckily, it doesn’t appear to be too serious of an injury, as she returned to the floor for the second half.
Hopefully, she can put this injury behind her and put in a solid second half in this game.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.