The WNBA All-Star Game is set for this weekend, but several star players will be absent due to injuries. Among the biggest question marks is Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who left Tuesday’s 85–77 win over the Connecticut Sun late in the game with an apparent groin injury. Named an All-Star captain for the first time, Clark was visibly in pain and had to be helped off the court. Her status remains unconfirmed.
New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello spoke about the league’s injury situation in a press conference on Wednesday. “There has been a lot this year,” she said. “What’s the solution? Probably having a longer season, having less games on top of each other. I think that’s the only solution.”
Brondello pointed to the physical demands on players. “Ankles and varying degrees of injuries, muscles that have kept them out. Maybe that’s a load thing,” she said. “When it gets to muscle, it’s more about probably too many games, too much on top of each other. I think that’s how it is.”
She also acknowledged that not all injuries are preventable. “Sometimes injuries are just bad luck too,” Brondello said. “You saw Rhyne Howard’s the other day — that was just really bad luck. Unfortunate.”
Caitlin Clark of Indiana Fever walks off of the court after a game against the Connecticut Sun (Getty Images)
Brondello, who is set to coach Clark at the All-Star Game if she is cleared to play, said she looks forward to working with her. “You never want to see a player get injured,” she said. “A player like Caitlin, she’s a great player. At All-Star, I’m excited to get to know her a little bit.”
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Players confirmed to miss the All-Star Weekend
Other stars are already confirmed to miss the game. Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally has been out with an ankle sprain since July 3 and will not participate. As well as Rhyne Howard, who went down with a knee injury on Sunday against the Fever, is expected to miss at least the rest of July.
On the other hand, Angel Reese did not play against Atlanta Dream on Wednesday as a precaution, as she suffered a leg injury. However, she is expected to be fine for the weekend.
