NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark left Thursday night’s preseason game against the Dallas Wings after colliding with one of their players.
Clark was seen hobbling onto the court after taking a step-back three-point shot and landed on Wings star defenseman Alanna Smith’s foot in the third quarter of the game. Upon landing, Clark told reporters after the 95-80 loss that she hit her knee hard when she went down after the foul by Smith.
Clark toppled onto the pitch and tried to walk it off as she headed for the fever bench. Officials ended up reviewing the play and gave Smith, the reigning WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, a flagrant 1 foul for not giving Clark a safe amount of room to land after shooting.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shoots the ball during the second half against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on April 30, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
Clark left the game with less than eight minutes left in the third quarter.
She finished with a team-high 21 points despite missing most of the second half. Clark hit two of her three three-pointers while hitting 11 of 13 from the free throw line. She also had two rebounds, four assists and one steal in the contest.
With this being a preseason matchup, Fever fans held their collective breath and watched Clark for the moment, especially considering the tumultuous season she had in 2025.
CAITLIN CLARK RETURNS TO WNBA COMPETITION AFTER 2025 INJURY IN FEVER PRESEASON GAME
Clark played just 13 games in her sophomore campaign, far short of what she had hoped for after winning WNBA Rookie of the Year and setting the single-season assist record in 2024.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever brings the ball up court against Odyssey Sims of the Dallas Wings during a preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 30, 2026. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
But it appeared that Clark avoided a serious injury that could have come in that situation. Being in someone’s landing zone after a shot can lead to serious injuries, especially ankles that turn.
Feber head coach Stephanie White didn’t seem to want to push Clark and sat her the rest of the way.
The Fever still have one more preseason game left on their schedule as they face the Nigerian national team on Saturday. Then it’s regular season basketball, with the Fever’s first record-setting game coming against the same Wings in Dallas on May 9.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark questions a game delay against the Dallas Wings during a preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., April 30. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
The Wings are an exciting team to watch as Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, reunites with her UConn teammate Paige Bueckers to begin her professional journey. Bueckers led the Wings with 20 points Thursday night, while Fudd finished with four points.
