Indiana Fever's star player, Caitlin Clark, is set to miss her fifth consecutive game due to a persistent quadriceps strain. This upcoming absence will be for the Fever's game against Atlanta on Tuesday. The primary concern and discussion now revolve around her potential availability for the subsequent game against the WNBA champion New York Liberty.

Indiana's coach, Stephanie White, indicated on Monday that while Clark has not been officially cleared for all basketball activities, the team is preparing for the reigning Rookie of the Year to begin "ramping back up" her activities. It has been 16 days since Clark sustained the injury during a close 90-88 loss to the Liberty. Despite finishing that game, likely due to adrenaline, the initial prognosis suggested she would be sidelined for at least two weeks.

Caitlin Clark had previously mentioned to reporters last week that she was aiming for a return on Tuesday but emphasized that she would not rush her recovery. Coach White echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of patience and a cautious approach. "We’re going to be smart, and we’re going to be cautious and we’re going to play the long game and work her back in very intentionally," White stated. The Fever's rematch with the Liberty is scheduled for Saturday at home, which could provide Clark with valuable practice time before potentially returning to play.

In the four games she has played this season, Clark has been a significant contributor, averaging 19 points, 9.3 assists, and six rebounds. This injury marks the first instance in her entire college or professional career that she has been forced to miss games. During her impressive rookie season, she averaged 19.2 points and led the WNBA with 8.4 assists per game.

The Indiana Fever are also contending with another injury, as guard Sophie Cunningham remains unavailable. Cunningham has been restricted to just four games this season due to an ankle injury, and Coach White has confirmed she will not play against the Atlanta Dream.