No plan survives first contact with the enemy is something Cathy Engelbert must be feeling this year. Only in her case, the enemy is injuries, and the plan was for Caitlin Clark. After last year’s heroic rise of women’s basketball, the WNBA had some big plans for the Indiana Fever. They even went so far as to host All-Star Weekend there! However, a couple of strains and sprains have laid waste to the league’s best plans.

It hasn’t been easy for Indiana to play without their star either. The Fever, led by new coach Stephanie White, is coming off a second-round playoff run last year and has already dealt with some major drama regarding the departure of a key player. However, to credit where credit is due, the team has performed admirably even without Caitlin Clark! Natasha Howard, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston have held down the fort in CC’s absence, while newcomers Aari McDonald and Sophie Cunningham have proved their worth time and time again.

The team was performing so smoothly without Clark earlier this month that Ex-WNBA coach Carolyn Peck issued a somewhat controversial statement. “I think that Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn’t play.” She said during ESPN’s SportsCenter segment. Her opinions divided the WNBA community and led to a lot of backlash heading her way. Peck later clarified that she was trying to compliment the rest of the team, and not knock Caitlin Clark.

And we can see that in her most recent take on the WNBA countdown with Mallika Andrews! “There’s a long list of star-caliber players who are on the mend here. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese they’ve both missed time with their respective injuries. No timetable for their return…” Andrews said, mentioning the season-long injury to Kayla Thornton, and the fact that Cameron Brink is about to make her WNBA return. “When I look at all these injuries piling up, coach, is there a reason to point to? Because it feels like this is a little bit of a trend we have been seeing in recent years.”

Too many injuries have been a problem that many coaches have deliberated upon, and Carolyn Peck is no different! “I think that one of the things that I’m looking at is you’re adding a number of games without adding a significant number of days. And I think the wear and tear on these players? I think that’s really wearing on them this season.” She said. If we look at the stats, a clearer picture does start to form.

Last year, there were 40 games scheduled over 116 days. However, because of the league’s expansion and popular demand, the WNBA will be playing 44 games over 118 days. Adding four games and 2 days doesn’t make sense when we think about keeping players fresh, and Peck agreed! The former Orlando Miracle coach expressed a desire to have every star on the court day in and day out!

Speaking of stars, what exactly is Caitlin Clark’s timeline looking like? Will the Indiana Fever guard be ready to help her team succeed in the second half of the season? Well, let’s find out more about this!

Caitlin Clark’s timeline is muddy, Stephanie White “will be even more cautious this time”

Nothing’s worse than seeing number 22 on the bench for Indiana fans. Whenever Caitlin Clark gets injured, the city gets thrown off-kilter, and they’re always looking for someone to blame. However, this time around, the head coach of the Fever came under scrutiny for a few questionable decisions regarding Clark’s previous return to play.

ESPN’s Holly Rowe had a conversation with Stephanie White about Caitlin Clark’s most recent injury and how soon we’ll see her back on the court. “She [Clark] did see a specialist last week, and no additional injury was found in that exam and scans. But Stephanie White did tell us that they will be even more cautious in their approach to her return to play this time.” Rowe said during the Fever vs Sky fixture.

Clark’s injury is perceived as day-to-day, but Rowe did hint towards a three-week delay for CC to get some reps in before returning to the Fever. It’s worth noting that following her last injury, Caitlin Clark came in on a minutes restriction, with minimal intensive practice, and earned Stephanie White some harsh criticism. However, it looks like the Fever organization has learned from past mistakes and is treading more carefully this time around.

We can’t wait to see Caitlin Clark back in action, but it’s best for everyone if the Indiana Fever star recovers completely before making another push for the title. Stay tuned for more updates!