Caitlin Clark is sitting out of the WNBA All-Star Game festivities.
The Indiana Fever superstar will not participate in this weekend’s 3-point contest or All-Star Game on her home court in Indianapolis after suffering a right groin injury this week.
“I am incredibly sad and disappointed,” Clark said in a statement Thursday.
Clark sustained the injury in the final minute of Tuesday night’s win over the Connecticut Sun, then was ruled out for Wednesday night’s loss to the Liberty at Barclays Center.
The 23-year-old sensation underwent imaging on Wednesday and is considered day-to-day, according to head coach Stephanie White.
“I have to rest my body,” Clark said Thursday. “I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I’m looking forward to helping Sandy [Brondello] coach our team to a win.”
Wednesday’s game was the 11th missed by Clark, who previously dealt with left quad and left groin injuries.
Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game, but her production has waned of late. She shot just 34% in four games after returning from her first groin injury.
Clark was set to be a captain for one of the All-Star teams after receiving a record 1,293,526 fan votes. She was one of three Fever players selected for the All-Star Game, along with guard Kelsey Mitchell and forward Aliyah Boston.
White had said it would be up to Clark and her team to decide whether she would participate in any All-Star events.
“It’s a big deal for us to have All-Star [weekend] in Indianapolis, and of course with Caitlin being a focal point of all of that,” White said Wednesday. “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 Fever open the second half of the season on Tuesday with another game against the Liberty at Barclays Center.
