Caitlin Clark addressed her missed game while speaking to reporters ahead of the Indiana Fever's upcoming match against the Golden State Valkyries today. An unusually serious Clark made it clear that she was ultimately the person who decided she wasn't going to play Wednesday night against the Portland Fire, and noted that her mother found out around 40 minutes before everyone else did.
Clark, who suffered a series of injuries last season that ultimately kept her off the court for several games, also said that she woke up "a little sore" on Tuesday and texting the training staff. She then launched into a description of what she had for breakfast that day, a pointed dig at the overwhelming interest in multiple aspects of her life. She added that she had physical therapy at home and worked out ahead of the game.
In the end, her confidence (or lack thereof) got the best of her. "I think, at the end of the day, it's me and my confidence," she explained. "Obviously I have a great team around me. It's not only me... Coming back from injury and having three soft tissue injuries is a real mental challenge."
Asked Caitlin Clark:
— Tony East (@TonyREast) May 22, 2026
-A timeline of her Tuesday and Wednesday
-Who made the final call on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/nS9lqPJVpH
Caitlin Clark tried to shut down narratives that are running rampant online
Clark took advantage of the opportunity to try to set the record straight, a formidable task in the face of a multitude of stories about Wednesday's game. She noted that though she hopes to play every game this season, that's not always going to happen post-injury, because it's all too easy for her to get in her own head.
Clark is hardly the first player to admit that the mental is a huge part of success on the court, but she's doing so under an enormous amount of scrutiny. She also typically faces a barrage of questions about nearly every decision she makes on or off the court, and may be seeking new ways to work with the reporters at games to share information relevant to what is or isn't happening.
She might also just be young and trying to figure things out. Clark is in her third season of play in the WNBA, and the amount of attention she gets hasn't slowed down. Luckily for everyone involved, she is playing Friday night against the Golden State Valkyries. The game will give everyone the opportunity to cool down a little bit, and, hopefully, give her the chance to get out of her head and focus on her game.
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