Caitlin Clark Injury Update: Is Clark Playing Tonight vs. Mercury?

The Indiana Fever continue to rise in the Eastern Conference standings, despite G Caitlin Clark missing time recently. Despite returning to the lineup on Wednesday, Fever head coach Stephanie White announced that Clark would sit out Thursday’s 10:00 p.m. ET tip against the Phoenix Mercury.

Clark was forced to leave a June 24 loss to the Mercury and was sidelined for two games. However, she did return to play limited minutes in Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Below, we'll break down the latest Caitlin Clark injury update, Clark’s outlook for tonight, and who to target on PrizePicks in Fever vs. Mercury.

Make your Fever vs. Mercury picks on PrizePicks now!

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Caitlin Clark Injury Update: Latest News, Timeline Ahead of Fever vs. Mercury

Before Wednesday’s game against the Sparks, Fever head coach Stephanie White revealed that the plan was for Clark to play on Wednesday but sit out Thursday’s contest to manage her back injury on the second night of a back-to-back.

In the first half of Indiana’s June 24 contest against the Mercury, Clark was down the floor and was hit in the throat by Mercury F Alyssa Thomas. Clark stayed in the game but eventually was forced to leave after tweaking her back on a fall following a 3-point shot. 

Clark returned to the court in Wednesday’s 106-92 loss to the Sparks. The former No. 1 pick scored 9 points on 4-of-12 shooting, secured 4 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists in 16 minutes of action.

"It's really, really hard to get into a flow," Clark said following Wednesday’s game, per ESPN. "For the most part, I got good looks. Some of them went, some of them didn't.

"I didn't get to have a feel for the game as I usually do. But overall, my body feels great. So that's a positive you take from today. It stinks we didn't play very well as a team, but I feel really good. So we'll see how I feel tomorrow, too. But can definitely take a win there."

Clark has dealt with back issues in the past coming into the 2026 season, so the Fever are clearly continuing to take it slow, easing Clark back into the lineup. After all, Thursday is the second night of a back-to-back, and Clark logged just 16 minutes in her first game in two weeks.

In 18 games, Clark has been exceptional for the Fever, averaging 20.5 points, 7.9 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 33.6% from beyond the arc. 

The Fever have a 12-9 record entering Thursday’s game, which is tied for second place in the Eastern Conference behind the New York Liberty. Following Thursday’s contest, Indiana won’t play until Sunday when they take on the Las Vegas Aces on the road. 

What Fever Players to Target on PrizePicks With Clark Out?

With Clark set to miss Thursday’s game, the Fever will be without one of their top offensive threats. Throughout her career, Clark has showcased her ability to affect the game from the perimeter while also being a sensational facilitator. 

According to databallr, Clark can create her own offense, averaging 14.2 points on unassisted shots, which ranks in the 97th percentile. The former Iowa star spends 46.3% of her time on the court on the ball (95th percentile), making her the team’s primary ball-handler.

The Fever actually produced a 2-0 record without Clark in the lineup before Wednesday’s contest. With Clark unavailable for Thursday’s matchup, who could step up?

G Kelsey Mitchell is certainly the most obvious choice, considering she has been a lethal scorer throughout the 2026 season, even with Clark in the lineup. The four-time WNBA All-Star has averaged a team-high 22.2 PPG, while shooting a career-high 48.9% from the field and 40.7% on 3-pointers.

C Aliyah Boston missed Wednesday’s game against the Sparks with a lower-leg injury, but White announced that Boston would play against the Mercury on Thursday.

Boston has been extremely efficient this season, averaging 17.1 PPG and a team-high 8.6 RPG. The former first-round pick is also shooting a career-best 45.1% from beyond the arc.

Additionally, G Lexie Hull has been productive off the bench for the Fever during the 2026 season. With G Sophie Cunningham’s status up in the air for Thursday’s game, Hull could see elevated minutes. She has averaged 6.2 PPG this season but scored 14 points on Wednesday in Cunningham’s absence. 

Here are the Fever players who may benefit most on PrizePicks with Clark out, as well as their stat projections for tonight.

• G Kelsey Mitchell vs. Mercury: 23.5 Points / 2.5 Assists (Goblin) / 29 Pts + Rebs + Asts
• C Aliyah Boston vs. Mercury: 17.5 Points / 9 Rebounds / 2.5 Assists (Goblin)
• G Lexie Hull vs. Mercury: 8.5 Points / 3.5 Rebounds (Goblin)  / 0.5 3PT Made (Goblin)

Even when Clark is in the lineup, Mitchell has been one of the Fever’s top scoring options and could be in line for an increase in production without Clark in the lineup. 

Pick More or Less on Fever player stats on PrizePicks now before 10:00 p.m. ET tip.

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Make Fever vs. Mercury Picks on PrizePicks

Caitlin Clark won’t take the floor on the second night of a back-to-back on Thursday, leaving the door open for production from some of the Fever’s other top contributors. Which Indiana players will rise to the occasion against the Mercury?

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