Is Caitlin Clark Playing on Friday? Fever Reveal Latest Update on Superstar’s Injury Status vs. Valkyries
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after being fouled on a play while scoring during the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Caitlin Clark has dealt with a lingering back issue since the very first game of the 2026 season. Now that the Indiana Fever is completing a four-game stretch at home, her availability is officially in question.
The Fever have listed Clark as probable with a back injury for Friday’s 7:30 p. m. ET matchup against the Golden State Valkyries, though Indiana did not hold practice on Friday, adding a layer of uncertainty heading into tipoff.
The update comes via reporter Scott Agness. What Is Caitlin Clark’s Injury Status? Clark was ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Portland Fire, the first game she has missed in the 2026 season.
But then the back issue was what forced her to leave the floor and go to the locker room during the game against the Dallas Wings. Make no mistake, Clark has tried to take a confident approach to playing through the discomfort. After the Wings game, she told ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, “That moment where my back tightened up, I think I almost got confidence from that because I came back in and I played eight more minutes, so I felt great.
It’s something I can take confidence from. But it’s going to take me a little bit to really get over the mental hurdle of trusting my body. ” Given everything Clark has been through, that mental hurdle is entirely understandable.