Caitlin Clark is expected to play Sunday when the Indiana Fever close out their West Coast trip against the Las Vegas Aces, but she remains on a minutes restriction as she continues working back from a back injury. Fever coach Stephanie White told reporters Saturday that Clark will be limited to somewhere between 20 and 25 minutes against Las Vegas, per Chloe Peterson of the IndyStar.The Indiana enters Sunday at 13-9, tied with Atlanta for the best record in the Eastern Conference, and a healthy Clark would give the Fever their clearest look yet at what this roster can do at close to full strength down the stretch.
Latest update on Caitlin Clark’s injury
Caitlin Clark (via Getty Images)
Clark first aggravated the back issue during a physical June 24 loss to the Phoenix Mercury and missed the next two games as a result. She made her return July 8 against the Los Angeles Sparks but was capped at 16 minutes, the fewest she has played in any game since entering the league. She finished that outing with nine points on 4-of-12 shooting, four rebounds, three assists and four turnovers in a 106-92 loss.White acknowledged afterward that the stop-and-start usage made it difficult for Clark to settle into any rhythm. Clark echoed the sentiment, telling reporters it was “really, really hard” to find a flow while being subbed out every few minutes. Indiana then held her out entirely for rest on July 9 in Phoenix, a game the Fever won 92-89 without her.Clark has now appeared in 18 of Indiana’s 22 games this season and is averaging 20.5 points, 7.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds. That workload is already ahead of her injury-shortened 2025 season, when she played in just 13 games total.
Will Caitlin Clark play against Aces on Sunday?
Caitlin Clark. Image via: Andy Lyons/ Getty Images
Yes. White confirmed Clark is set to play Sunday against Las Vegas, listed as probable on the injury report, though the Fever will again cap her minutes in the 20-to-25 range. Clark herself said after the Sparks loss that she was hoping to push closer to 25 minutes by the time Indiana reached Las Vegas, framing it as a decision that ultimately rests with the team’s medical staff rather than her own preference.The Fever already beat the Aces once this season, an 84-68 road win on July 5 that came without both Clark and Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson available. Sunday’s rematch will feature both players on the floor, giving fans a fuller picture of how the two teams stack up.
How to watch the Fever vs Aces matchup?
Indiana arrives on a strong stretch, having beaten Phoenix without Clark to close out the season series with the Mercury. Kelsey Mitchell has carried a heavy scoring load in Clark’s limited stints, and Aliyah Boston has been back in the lineup after her own leg injury. Sophie Cunningham and Tyasha Harris have also given White reliable minutes off the bench during Clark’s restricted return.A full-strength Clark and Wilson matchup on national television gives Sunday’s game a different feel than the first meeting in July. How White manages Clark’s workload against a champion Aces defense, and whether Indiana can close its road trip 3-1, will say a lot about where this Fever team stands heading into the season’s second half.
