How to affect the absence of Clark, which extends to the Fever WNBA qualifiers

Indiana fever said on Thursday that goalkeeper Ketlin Clark will conclude the rest of the 2025 WNBA season, the loss of the last three team matches for the normal season and any possible play in the post -season. The advertisement has finished weeks of speculation about when Clark, who has not played since July 15 due to the right thigh injury, – is a frustrating separation of Clark and the fever, which is currently ranked No. 8 in the WNBA.

Clark did not miss a match during Four Seasons in the state of Iowa or its first season in WNBA, when she won the rising this year and led the league in passes and 3 sandy. But she struggled to stay in good health throughout 2025, as she appeared in only 13 games from 41 games in Indiana so far.

Three different injuries forced her to miss the Commissioner’s Cup final on the first of July, she won the fever over Minnesota; All-Star game, which was a leader in the competition in Arena Home, Gainbridge FieldHouse; And the last seven weeks of the season.

What does it mean for fever and WNBA that Clark will not be in the qualifiers? What is the next of the 23 -year -old player, one of the biggest stars in professional sport?

How does news Thursday affect the rest of the fever season and hope for the qualifiers to move forward?

The fever has gone through many injuries, and the new players added and put them this season to the point that they have proven rolling with punches. They will not be surprised by this news – they are about Clark all the time and know how its recovery was going. Despite all the difficulties, four players appeared in the fever in all 41 games: the guards Kelssy Mitchell and Lexi Hull, and they participate in Al -Ali Boston and Natasha Howard.

This is still good for players well and experienced in the post -season if fever can be imprisoned. Mitchell and Boston are both on average functional levels in points, and he has a professional average in points (7.2), a rebound (4.4) and help (1.8). Howard is the WNBA champion three times with Seattle (twice) and Minnesota.

In August, after injuries at the end of the season, the guards, Ari McDonald and Sidney Kulson, added veteran goalkeeper Odysse Sims. They also added the air powers later in the month after Sophie Keningham lost this season. SIMS and Powers Completely played in 55 WNBA POSTEASON game. Powers won the WNBA title with Washington.

It is clear that this team is not like what was expected in May, but its flexibility has never disappeared. Clark was officially closed, but the fever played more than twice the number of games without Clark this season as it was with it. – Voepel

How did Indiana play without Clark?

The good news of fever is that they still have two healthy stars in Boston and Mitcheel, the last two ascended as a major surrounding creator in Indiana in the absence of Clark. Mitchell average 21.2 PPG and 3.9 APG in 28 games without Clark, compared to 19.2 PPG and 2.2 APG as part of the AL-Star rear duo.

However, the recent injuries to the guards were tested behind the depth of Indiana. Al -Hami won five consecutive games from July 24 to August 3, but after the victory chain was captured in Los Angeles, they lost McDonald and Coulson in a loss against Phoenix. Including that game, which did not end any player, Indiana went 4-7 in 11 games. Then Kaningham, which reached average of 11.2 parts in Galass at 13 beginnings, this season.

Interestingly, Indiana still has a better net classification (minus 2.5 points per 100 properties) in that period from Los Angeles (minus 3.5), According to advanced Wnba statistics. The spark is 1.5 games of the eighth and last place fever in the qualifiers, which is why fever is made the qualifiers in 93 % of the simulation using the ESPN basketball index (BPI). But Indiana Al -Safi is the last of the eight teams currently in the qualifiers, which do not herald good due to the first round disorder. – Bilton

Why did the fever take the decision now?

The fever may have been ready to pull the plug in the Clark season until Thursday. But Clark is fierce competition, and the fever administration may have wanted to give it every opportunity to return if it could. All the time, it seemed as if the fever tried to balance Clark by trying to remain pragmatic.

But at the end of the normal season next week, the watch was realized in its return. There was no reason to continue the hope of fans fever, many of whom are likely to expect this announcement, or Clark will continue to pressure towards an impossible goal. – Voepel

What does Clark mean to close this season for its direct future?

It ends its second season with an average of 16.5 points, 8.8 decisive passes, 5.0 rebound balls and 1.6 theft in 13 games. Even on its time outside the field, it was not separated from the fever. It was an audio and vital presence on the bench, and we can expect to remain the same for all the remaining games in Indiana. But there is now no pressure to push itself physically, which is the best. It can focus on obtaining health, preparing exercise procedures that will continue abroad and support the team for a long time in the 2025 season.

As for what this means for WNBA, it is clear that Clark is the biggest lot in the league: its presence on the field attracts attention even from the people who are not a great sports lover. Certainly it will be missed in the post -season. But if the arrangement holds, Indiana will continue in its first playing match since 2016, and through the league, there is still awaiting the qualifiers and many interesting stories. – Voepel

What should we expect from Clark next May in its third season in WNBA?

That is why the injuries season to be a memory. We are still at least eight months from the start of the ordinary season of 2026, more than enough time to completely marry Clark.

Perhaps what is most equivalent to Clark lost in 2025 is the second Michael Jordan season in the American Professional League. After his victory over the rising for this year, as Clark did last year, Jordan was limited to 18 games and seven games in 1985-1986 due to a marine fracture. (One of the main differences: Jordan returned in the qualifiers, as it dropped 63 points from the CELTICS final in Boston Garden in a loss from the first round.

There is a precedent of Wnba as well. MVP Aja Wilson has moved three times from an average of 20.7 PPG as a rise to 16.5 in the second year, partly due to the two weeks that cost the ankle. The following year, in 2020, Wilson won the first MVP awards. Suu Bird managed to play all 34 games during its second season, despite a knee injury that requires delicate sclerosis in the next season. In the third year, Bird helped lead the Seattle Storm to its first four tournaments.

This does not mean that Clark will win the recording title, MVP or championship in 2026, but its potential should not be limited to what happened this year.

One of the interesting questions is whether to lose a lot of time may change Clark’s plans outside the season. She has chosen any organized competition after her upward campaign, but moving forward without competitive games may not be perfect for Clark this time. This can make participation in the undivled 3 play on 3 or go abroad more attractive. – Bilton