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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark announced Thursday that she will not participate in any on-court events during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis after suffering a right groin injury Tuesday night in the Fever’s road win over the Connecticut Sun. Clark was scheduled to participate in the 3-point contest Friday and make her second straight start in the All-Star Game on Saturday, with both events being held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Fever’s home arena.

“I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game. I have to rest my body,” Clark said in a statement. “I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action, and I’m looking forward to helping (New York Liberty coach) Sandy (Brondello) coach our team to a win.”

Despite her absence from the court, Clark thanked the WNBA All-Star Host Committee for preparing the city for one of the league’s marquee events. Several posters of this year’s All-Stars have been put up in Indianapolis by the league and its endorsers, none bigger than the 30-story poster of Clark shooting a jump shot that Nike has plastered on the side of the downtown JW Marriott.

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Clark intended to perform for the thousands of fans who’ve flocked to every city she’s played in since her stardom exploded during back-to-back national championship appearances at Iowa. However, a simple play Tuesday night has sidelined her through the All-Star break. Clark threw a bounce pass to teammate Kelsey Mitchell for a layup with less than a minute left in the game, but afterward, Clark grabbed her right groin. Connecticut called a timeout after the play, and Clark was clearly in discomfort as she walked off the court. Tears welled up in her eyes when she went to the bench, and she put a towel over her head to watch the end of the game.

Clark underwent imaging Wednesday and was downgraded from questionable to out for the Fever’s eventual road loss against the New York Liberty that same day. Fever coach Stephanie White said Wednesday that Clark was “day to day.”

On Thursday night, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert named Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes and Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones to replace Clark and Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally on Team Clark.

“It’s a big deal to have (the) All-Star (Game) in Indianapolis, and of course, with Caitlin being a focal point of that,” White said. “As the coach of the Indiana Fever, it’s not a bigger deal than our long-term season, but it’s also part of the fun. … The big picture is most important for her health and wellness long-term and for our team.”

Before this season, Clark had never missed a game in her college or pro career. She made 181 consecutive starts across those five years.

She has suffered four non-contact injuries this season alone, resulting in 11 missed games. She missed five games with a left quad injury, five games with a left groin injury and now one game with a right groin injury. Clark was also sidelined for the Fever’s preseason opener due to left leg tightness. Indiana is 4-6 without Clark this year, excluding the Commissioner’s Cup Championship victory that does not count toward the league’s standings.

The Fever are 12-11 and in sixth place in the WNBA standings. Their next game is next Tuesday at New York.

Clark is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 13 games this season. She’s shooting 36.7 percent from the field, 27.9 percent on 3s and 82.0 percent at the free-throw line, all down from the splits she maintained during her 2024 All-WNBA first-team selection as a rookie.

(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)