{"id":2369,"date":"2026-07-09T12:58:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T07:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=2369"},"modified":"2026-07-09T12:58:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T07:58:01","slug":"caitlin-clarks-injury-return-goes-poorly-in-fever-loss-to-sparks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=2369","title":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark&#8217;s injury return goes poorly in Fever loss to Sparks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">All eyes were on <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_sports_article_main-content_article-body_6_952527\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/caitlin-clark\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Caitlin Clark<\/a> on Wednesday night as she made her anticipated return from injury in a road matchup in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">But instead of a triumphant comeback, <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_sports_article_main-content_article-body_6_952528\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/sports\/wnba\/indiana-fever\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the Fever<\/a> spent the entire night chasing the Sparks as Clark&#8217;s rough return fueled a 106-92 rout.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The superstar never found a groove, looking completely out of sync in her return from a back injury.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_sports_article_main-content_article-body_6_952529\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/outkick-sports\/stephanie-white-gives-caitlin-clark-status-update-ahead-fever-sparks-next-move-raises-questions\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>STEPHANIE WHITE GIVES CAITLIN CLARK STATUS UPDATE AHEAD OF FEVER-SPARKS, BUT HER NEXT MOVE RAISES QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-3.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-3.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-3.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-3.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-3.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-3 - 1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Caitlin Clark huddles with teammates as the Indiana Fever battle the Sparks. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy\/Getty Images)<\/span> <span>((Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy\/Getty Images))<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Much of that disjointed performance falls squarely on head coach Stephanie White, who kept Clark on a ridiculously tight leash by limiting her to just 16 minutes. The stop-and-go approach could have sabotaged any chance for the phenom to establish a rhythm.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Clark finished with just 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Her minus-16 plus-minus told the story.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The Los Angeles Sparks were severely shorthanded, taking the floor without stars Kelsey Plum and <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_sports_article_main-content_article-body_6_952530\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/sports\/sparks-star-cameron-brink-shows-toned-abs-coachella-ahead-highly-anticipated-wnba-season\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Cameron Brink<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_sports_article_main-content_article-body_6_952531\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/outkick-sports\/mercury-deleted-social-media-post-mocking-fever-caitlin-clark-injury\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>MERCURY&#8217;S NOW-DELETED SOCIAL MEDIA POST MOCKING CAITLIN CLARK DRAWS SCRUTINY AFTER STAR&#8217;S INJURY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Yet while a depleted Sparks roster played to win, Indiana spent the night over-managing its biggest asset.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">With Clark on a minutes restriction and Aliyah Boston out of the lineup, Kelsey Mitchell was forced to shoulder the entire offensive burden.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Mitchell did her part, pouring in 29 points while shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-2 - 1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Caitlin Clark orchestrates the Fever offense as Indiana battles the Los Angeles Sparks in primetime action. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy\/Getty Images)<\/span> <span>((Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy\/Getty Images))<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">But one hot hand couldn&#8217;t stop an efficient LA squad.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The Sparks shot 45% from three-point range, going 9-of-20 from deep to cruise to the 106-92 victory.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">White&#8217;s next move is to sit Clark against the Mercury on Thursday while Boston returns.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">After Wednesday&#8217;s loss to a shorthanded Sparks team, it&#8217;s fair to question whether Indiana&#8217;s cautious approach is working. The Fever dropped to 12-9.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-1 - 1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Caitlin Clark and Dearica Hamby face off as Fever and Sparks battle at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Photo by Tyler Ross\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/span> <span>((Photo by Tyler Ross\/NBAE via Getty Images))<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Send us your thoughts: <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_sports_article_main-content_article-body_6_952533\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/sports\/mailto:alejandro.avila@outkick.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">alejandro.avila@outkick.com<\/a> \/ Follow along on X: @<a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_sports_article_main-content_article-body_6_952534\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlejandroAveela\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">alejandroaveela<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! All eyes were on Caitlin Clark on Wednesday night as she made her anticipated return from injury in a road matchup in Los Angeles. But instead of a triumphant comeback, the Fever spent the entire night chasing the Sparks as Clark&#8217;s rough return fueled a 106-92 rout&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-hamby-sparks-wnba-2-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2369","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2369"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2369\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}