​LAS VEGAS — Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White said Caitlin Clark’s minutes restriction will continue in the final game of the team’s road trip, ahead of practice at the Las Vegas Aces’ facility on Saturday. Clark returned to action with a 20-minute limit against the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, then sat out on Thursday for rest. A Fever spokesperson clarified there was no flare-up on Thursday; the rest day was a planned part of back-to-back management.
“Usually when you’re coming back from an injury, fatigue and endurance building are factors as well,” White explained. “When you’re fatigued, the risk of injury goes up. I think sitting her out in the Phoenix game was a cautious move, prioritizing her long-term health and wellness.”
Clark has dealt with back issues throughout the season, dating back to a late scratch against Portland on May 20. In every game since, she has been listed as probable with a back designation. On June 24, she left Indiana’s game against Phoenix in the third quarter and did not return due to back problems. Since then, she has missed three of the Fever’s last four games, including June 27 versus Los Angeles, July 5 at Las Vegas and July 9 at Phoenix.
Her return on July 8 at Los Angeles marked her first game in two and a half weeks, with a 20-minute limit administered in three-minute increments. Clark said after the game that the structured bursts prevented her from finding a true rhythm, contributing to just nine points in 16 minutes, one of her lowest-scoring outputs of the season.
“It’s really, really hard to get into a flow,” Clark noted. “For the most part, I got good looks; some went in, some didn’t. I didn’t get to feel the game the way I usually do. It’s just really, really hard to play in that scenario, but overall, my body feels great, so that’s the positive I can take from today.”
Clark emphasized that the three-minute bursts were not her decision. White reiterated that the approach is about ensuring Clark can build endurance without becoming overly fatigued, stressing that she is managed differently from every other player in the league to keep her fresh. When Clark wasn’t on the floor Wednesday, she wore a heat therapy pad on her back and rode a stationary bike.
Following three days of rest, White said Clark’s minutes restriction will be increased to 20-25 minutes on Sunday against Las Vegas, marking a step toward reintegrating her more fully into game action while continuing to prioritize recovery and long-term health. The team will monitor how the minutes adjustment affects Clark’s rhythm and performance as they close out the road trip and prepare for upcoming games.