Caitlin Clark returned from a groin injury but her efforts were insufficient for the Indiana Fever, leading to an 80-61 home loss against the Golden State Valkyries. Coach Stephanie White noted the team's lack of competitive fire and issues with executing their game plan. Despite Clark scoring 10 points, she highlighted overall energy and effort as lacking. The Fever fell to a 9-10 record, and Clark expressed that it may take time for her to fully regain stamina following her injury.
"We struggled scouting-report wise. We struggled [with] personnel. We struggled to do what the coaches asked of us," said Clark, who notched 10 points on 4 for 12 shooting. "And then overall, they just played with more energy and effort, and those are the things that just can't happen."
"I'm not sure if it's not knowing the game plan... as much as not executing the game plan. Our attention to detail, our discipline. I felt like our energy and our competitive fire was not there, and that's disappointing," said White.
Clark, who also missed five games across late May and early June with a quad injury, said it may take some time to get her wind back but that she "felt pretty good," playing in shorter stints.
The Fever (9-10) fell below .500 with the loss. They are 5-5 with Clark on the floor and 5-5 without her, including last week's Commissioner's Cup final victory that did not count toward regular season standings.
Collection
[
|
...
]