Any time a draft happens in sports, it is an exciting time because we start fantasizing about potential high-profile matchups. With Paige Bueckers joining the Wings, fans have been waiting for the first time that she and Fever star Caitlin Clark will have a professional showdown after their battles in college.
However, fans will have to wait a little longer. The Fever and Wings are scheduled to play their first matchup of the season on Friday, June 27, but Indiana is down its best player.
Clark was sidelined from the team's game on Thursday due to a left groin injury. It was the sixth game of the year that she has missed, following five that she had missed due to a quad strain.
There was hope that she was just getting extra rest ahead of this matchup, especially since this is the third game in the last four days for the Fever.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Here is more on Clark's status on Friday night against the Wings.
MORE: Where Caitlin Clark ranks among best WNBA players
Is Caitlin Clark playing tonight?
After missing Thursday's game, the Fever made it official Clark will not play Friday either.
Caitlin Clark has been ruled OUT on Friday night against the Wings.
Kinda figured this was coming, but Caitlin Clark is OUT again tonight against the Wings.
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) June 27, 2025
If you were hoping for Clark vs. Bueckers, it will have to wait.
Is Caitlin Clark injured?
It appears that way. There was hope she was just getting extra rest in, but this will be her second consecutive missed game. She was listed as out with a left groin injury on Thursday against the Sparks. If she is injured, she didn't appear to suffer it in the team's last game against Seattle, and there weren't any reports about her picking it up in practice.
It could just be rest during the tough stretch of games, and with her shooting slump.
When will Caitlin Clark return?
We don't yet know the extent of the star's injury, but here are the Fever's next five games.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
| Friday, June 27 | at Wings | 7:30 p.m. | ION |
| Thursday, July 3 | vs. Aces | 7 p.m. | PrimeVideo |
| Saturday, July 5 | vs. Sparks | 7 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Wednesday, July 9 | vs. Valkyrie | 12 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Friday, July 11 | vs. Dream | 7:30 p.m. | ION |
Caitlin Clark injury history
Clark is known for her ability to be on the court, and play through minor injuries. She dealt with ankle issues during her time at Iowa, but she hadn't missed a game since high school. Clark came into this season dealing with a left quad injury that caused her to miss training camp and the first preseason game.
Her quad strain suffered in-season was ruled not to be related to her pre-season injury, but it did cause her to be sidelined for more than two weeks. This was the first big injury of her career. Now, she is dealing with a left groin strain. She missed Thursday's game against Los Angeles and has almost a week until her next game. Indiana may want her to sit for the maximum amount of rest possible, but keeping us from our first look at Clark vs. Bueckers, would be a big letdown.