Fever's Clark exits with back issue, won't return

Michael VoepelJun 24, 2026, 10:11 PM ET

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Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women's college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women's basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark left in the third quarter of Wednesday night's 111-109 home loss to the Phoenix Mercury because of a back issue and did not return.

Clark had 19 points and eight assists when she left with 5:15 left in the quarter. She sat out a game last May because of a sore back.

It was the second time in three days the Fever and Mercury faced off in Indianapolis. Clark had 24 points and nine assists in the Fever's 86-77 win Monday in a game that had six technical fouls called and one ejection.

The physical play continued Wednesday night. On one play, Clark fell to the court on a drive and, as players fought for the loose ball, Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas appeared to push her fist into Clark's neck. No foul was called.

Indiana's Aliyah Boston picked up a flagrant foul 1 later in the game when her elbow made contact with the Mercury guard Kahleah Copper's face.