Caitlin Clark to return from quad injury to face defending champion Liberty

Caitlin Clark ended the training on Friday by making a half -court shot and winning a little lunch money. And with that, the Indiana Fever Star is ready to play again.

Clark – apart from unforeseen setbacks – will probably be in the line -up if the fever organizes the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty on Saturday afternoon. She missed the last five Indiana games with a quadriceps injury.

“As long as we have no recourse, it will be ready to roll,” said Fieber coach Stephanie White.

Clark returned to training this week, and her comeback game happened to be a nationally on television on freedom on the freedom of the defending champion and 9-0 the last unbeaten team in the league this season. New York wins its games by an average of 19 points.

“I’m very excited,” said Clark. “I think it was definitely a process. I think the most difficult part is when you like to feel really good, and then it is just a process to get back to actually go up and down and get out with my teammates.”

The half -court shot at the end of the training was the kicker of a friendly competition, and Clark (who says she rarely wins the half -court competitions) waved a few dollars that she then won -if someone needed a memory of her shootout.

The fever (4-5) was 2-3 in Clark’s absence. She had an average of 19 points, 9.3 assists, six rebounds and 1.3 steals per game when she was injured. This season is still a long way to go, but no player in WNBA history has ever ended one season that has average many points, assists, rebound and theft per game. However, it is feasible. In her rookie campaign, Clark scored an average of 19.2 points, 8.4 templates and 1.3 steals per game for the year, but these were towed into the season by their inconsistent start: In the second half of the season, Clark set up 22.3, 10.0 and 1.3 per game in these categories.

Clark freely recognizes that she is not a patient person, but she understood the process and why it was important not to skip steps in her recovery. Among the treatments: “Everything under the sun,” she said, including everything, from massage to weights to hyperbar therapy.

Caitlin Clark was able to deal with other Indiana basketball while recovering from her quad burden. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

“It was certainly a learning option, and I think it will be a lot going on during my entire career, just fall back and understand certain moments like this,” said Clark. “But I’m great, super excited. I’m nervous to get out of there and probably shake a little rust and then play.”

Clark’s return is the latest part of the large basketball messages in Indianapolis, together with the Indiana Pacers, who run the Oklahoma City Thunder 2-1 on Fridays. Clark and many other Fever players were in Gainbridge Fieldhouse at Game 3, the same place on Wednesday evening, where they will take over the Liberty on Saturday.

Although Clark and the fever have an early game on Saturday, some – Clark – are planning at least some of game 4 on Friday evening.

“It’s incredible. It’s incredible,” said White when he was asked about the energy about basketball in Indianapolis. “As someone who grew up in the state of Indiana and as the saying says: ‘This is Indiana.’ And so the energy is incredible.

It is also expected that fever Sophie Cunningham (ankle) has back on Saturday for the game against Liberty. So far, Cunningham has scored an average of 6.5 points in four games this season.

“There are really two of our six top players integrated again, does it? “Some of the things we run will look different than without Caitlin on the floor. Sophie’s versatility and able to play in several positions … It’s like starting again on the first day.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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