Caitlin Clark's absence of the All-Star game will throw a shadow

Indianapolis – Caitlin Clark's presence is literally the largest about a mile from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse of the Indiana Fever. On the east side of the JW Marriott there is a 30-story, 113,500 square meter banner with Clark, which makes for a jump shot that is visible almost everywhere in the city center of Indy.

But when the city is preparing to organize WNBA all-star events, Clark's absence is now wooing the weekend more than the shadows that the towering building has filled.

She announced on Thursday afternoon that she will take part in the 3-point competition and the All-Star game in the 3-point competition on Friday evening and all-Star game on Saturday. The most bright figure of the sport would otherwise be the showcase of the league in the temporary season. Now Clark will be nothing more than an ambassador for the fever, Indianapolis and the WNBA.

Clark suffered the injury late Tuesday on Tuesday via the Sun in Connecticut. Although Clark was injury-free throughout her college career and her rookie season, this marks her fourth injury in a strenuous season for Supernova in the second year. She missed almost as many games (11, including the COP championship of the Commissioner) as she played (12).

Clark announced on social media that she is “sad and disappointed” to switch off. Although all-star events offer other potentially exciting action lines, it is difficult to solve what will be of what could have been.

The upcoming all-star weekend is of course not only about Clark, but also about the most popular draw in the league, which plays for the host of the host's host, was the DE-FACTO representative of the affair. It is plastered on signs in Indianapolis International Airport, which welcomes visitor in the city. Not only did she receive most of the fan votes for the exhibition on Saturday and made it a team captain and starter specials. She had to give her 3-point competition debut. She rejected an offer to take part in the 3-point shootout of the NBA in February and intentionally waited to take part in the event in Indy.

It is an unfortunate reality. For you. For the fever. For the city. And for fans, both those who traveled for the exhibition and for those who watch at home (and it was probably a record number of them).

“It is a big deal to have all-star in Indianapolis, and of course Caitlin is a focus of it,” said Indiana coach Stephanie White on Wednesday. “As a coach of the Indiana fever, it is not a bigger business than our long-term season, but it is also part of the fun. … The big picture is most important for your health and well-being for our team.”

Before the injury on Tuesday, Clark thought about her lack of downtime. Morning coffee can be an important opportunity for you to slow down. A dinner with friends and teammates is fulfilled, she said. Even if she can go outside for about half an hour, she can help her mentally reset.

“I think that's really important,” she said. “Obviously I don't get much of it.”

Clark is not the only superstar athlete who has a whirlwind time plan. (Before her injury, Clark planned to play on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, then fly home overnight and start with the all-star events on Thursday afternoon.) But during her first half of the season, Clark spent a lot of time in the training room and dealt with the mental tribute that rehab.

Before she returned on July 9th – after the third of her four injuries this season – Clark said that this was her biggest challenge during her absence, especially because the recovery of injuries is new to her.

Maybe that's why Clark appeared so disturbed in the moments after her last setback. When she got off the square against the sun, she hit her head against the basket banks near Indianas Bank. Tears seemed to be visible in her eyes when she carefully made the sidelines. She finally put a towel over her head.

Caitlin Clark seemed to have pain in the fourth quarter after this game.

Clark returned last week after missing 5 games with a groin injury. pic.twitter.com/y78m3mdecf

– ESPNW (@Spnw) July 16, 2025

“I think the greatest is just trying to keep them in a good mood,” said White on Wednesday.

During a defeat against the New York Liberty that night, Clark was sitting on the bench in a black sweatshes. She cheered teammates and was busy with Team Huddles. But she also looked like a player who wanted to be in Badly on the square, but had to drive her hands around in her pockets.

Teammates did not want to deal with the possibility of Clark's all-star ability, but it was difficult for them to avoid thinking ahead.

“Hopefully I can represent what Caitlin cannot be,” said Guard Kelsey Mitchell, who will take her third all-star appearance this weekend and is a member of Team Clark.

Mitchell will get more attention and the center Aliyah Boston will also fill some of Clark's shoes for fever fans. But Clark's absence will initiate at the weekend.

It will be for all actions in the arena. She said she was looking forward to helping the team that she won on Saturday.

But the huge hotel banner that she shows in a moment of joy is now reminiscent of what everyone will be missing.

(Photo by Caitlin Clark: Danielle Parhizkaran / The Boston Globe about Getty Images)