Clark plans no minutes cap after Aja Wilson overtime loss
Caitlin Clark says she has no plans for a minutes restriction as the Indiana Fever chase a playoff seed. After losing the ball to Aja Wilson in an 86-84 overtime defeat to the Las Vegas Aces, Clark told reporters she feels healthy following a back injury and will keep playing heavy minutes through August.
Key Takeaways
- Clark said she, coach Stephanie White, and the medical staff have not discussed a minutes cap.
- She averaged 34.8 minutes over her last four games after returning from a back injury.
- The Fever sit fifth at 19-12 after Chelsea Gray's two buzzer-beaters for the Aces.
- Stephen A. Smith argued Kelsey Mitchell, not Clark, is Indiana's best player this season.
- Indiana plays eight games from Aug. 11-28 before Clark heads to the FIBA World Cup.
Why is Caitlin Clark ruling out a minutes restriction?
Clark spoke Saturday before a road game against the Chicago Sky. She was asked whether her court time would be managed because she is heading to Berlin for the FIBA World Cup, which runs from Sept. 4-13.
"I don't have any plans on that," Clark said, according to Bleacher Report. She said she and White have not had those talks with each other or the medical staff, and that she has felt really good since returning from missed time.
Clark said she played 38 minutes in her last game and that she is honest with her body and the medical staff. If a restriction is needed later, she said she will say so. Right now she feels good, and she called August a "really big month" because Indiana has to show up against talented teams.
Entering Saturday, Clark had averaged 34.8 minutes in her last four games and had not played fewer than 33 minutes in any of them. Bleacher Report concluded her earlier minutes restriction is long gone.
What happened when the Fever faced Aja Wilson and the Aces?
On Thursday, Indiana lost 86-84 in overtime to the Las Vegas Aces, dropping a second straight game. The Fever led by three with seven seconds left in regulation when Clark missed two free throws. Chelsea Gray then tied the game with a three-pointer.
Late in overtime, Clark lost the ball to Aja Wilson, setting up Las Vegas. Gray hit a game-winning triple at the buzzer. It was the first time a player had two buzzer-beaters in the same WNBA game.
White took the blame for not calling a timeout when the clock ran down and nothing looked right. "That's on me," she said, adding the Fever must stop relaxing with leads. Indiana remained fifth at 19-12 heading into the Sky game.
Is Kelsey Mitchell the Fever's best player, not Clark?
Clark went 7-for-20 and 2-for-10 from three against the Aces. Mitchell scored 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting, including 2-for-4 from deep. That contrast fueled a Friday debate on ESPN's First Take.
"I'm a fan of Caitlin Clark, but the best player on the Indiana Fever is Kelsey Mitchell," Stephen A. Smith said. He called Clark the box-office attraction but said Mitchell is more efficient from the field and from three and protects the ball better. Smith asked whether White is "responding to the narratives" by going to Clark in crunch time.
Clark is averaging 21.5 points, 8.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 turnovers per game on 44.1% shooting and 34.1% from three. Mitchell is averaging 24.1 points with 1.8 turnovers, shooting 50.4% from the field and 43.9% from three.
Why does August matter so much for the Fever?
Indiana plays eight games in 18 days from Aug. 11-28. That stretch includes two games apiece against the New York Liberty and Dallas Wings and one against the Atlanta Dream. Those three teams and the Fever each had 19 wins and are fighting for a top-four seed, which guarantees homecourt in Round 1.
If Clark is healthy, Bleacher Report said it makes sense for Indiana to give her a full allotment of minutes before the World Cup break. For more trending explainers, visit our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.