It’s Indiana vs. Brazil at Carver on Sunday, but it’s wait-and-see on Caitlin Clark

SATURDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:

For the first time her six seasons as a collegiate/professional basketball player, Caitlin Clark has missed a game due to injury.

On the day before her much-awaited game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Clark was scratched from the Indiana Fever’s preseason opener at home against the Washington Mystics.

According to the Fever, Clark is dealing with an injury to her left leg.

Clark initially was listed as questionable, and warmed up before the game, but was announced as out just before the game started.

The Fever face the Brazil National Team at 3 p.m. Sunday at Iowa City.

Clark was the WNBA Rookie of the Year last season, playing in all 40 regular-season games and both playoff games.

She played in all 139 of Iowa’s games during her collegiate career.

Chloe Peterson, Fever beat reporter for the Indianapolis Star, said Friday that Clark “(had) been practicing as normal throughout the week, including on Friday.

“She participated in the portion of practice open to the media Friday afternoon, competing in the half-court shot contest and getting some extra shots up after practice. She did wear sweatpants during Friday's practice, so it's unknown if she was wearing a brace or any protection on her leg.”

x x x x x x

IOWA CITY — Aliyah Boston sees a change in Caitlin Clark.

“The biggest difference in Caitlin ... it’s her strength,” Boston said Wednesday about her Indiana Fever teammate. “She can get into the paint, bully her way in.

“Her ability to get downhill, and stay on balance, it’s going to be great.”

Clark, Boston and the Fever will make their long-awaited appearance at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday. The WNBA team will face the Brazil National Team, with a 3 p.m. tip.

The exhibition game has long been sold out, and is televised on ESPN.

“My biggest focus of the offseason was to get stronger,” said Clark, who led Iowa to the NCAA tournament final in 2023 and 2024. “I certainly feel a lot stronger.

“It’s going to help both offensively and defensively. I shouldn’t get as tired during a game.”

So Clark might appear a little different, a bit more muscular, than last year. The look of the Fever, now that’s an absolute overhaul.

Only five players remain on the roster from last year’s team that went 20-20 — including 9-5 after the Olympics break — and reached the WNBA playoffs for the first time in seven years.

Also, Indiana native Stephanie White has returned home to coach the Fever; she spent the past two seasons head coach of the Connecticut Sun.

The roster is older. Better.

“It’s a learning process, trying to figure out my new teammates and figure out a new system,” Clark said.

“There’s so much personality on this team. That’s what fans are going to love about us. We’re going to have a lot of fun playing basketball.”

In her Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024, Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. She shot 41.7 percent from the floor (34.4 percent from 3-point range) and 90.6 percent from the line.

“Caitlin loves to play such a fast-paced game,” Boston said. “I know that, and it helps my mindset at where I need to be (on the floor).”

For the Fever, Sunday marks their second exhibition in two days; they host the Washington Mystics at noon Saturday before flying to Iowa.

Last year, Clark transitioned immediately from the college game to the pros. After her rookie season, she was able to rest (and strengthen) her body somewhat for seven months.

“The rest aspect got my body where it needed to be, and that was super important,” she said. “I was able to cook, bake, be outside.

“The Masters was really cool. Being on the 18th green on Sunday at the Masters was one of the coolest things ever.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com