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Takeaways from Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fevers pre -season: Will your quad injury linger?

Takeaways from Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fevers pre -season: Will your quad injury linger?

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Caitlin Clark's second pre -season with the Indiana fever will be less remembered for your game and more for your broader effect. With a leg injury from the pre -season, she sat out, enjoyed a return in Iowa in an exhibition in Iowa and played 23 minutes in winning the Atlanta Dream in the last TuneUp until the regular season.

When Clark enters her second season as a specialist, interest in her progress has not subsided, and speculation is widespread about how far she can take the fever this season.

The tickets were sold out in 24 minutes to return to the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and the fans were hours before their exhibition game against the Brazilian national team at their Alma Mater at the beginning of this month. The Roar of the crowd when she had buried a 3 pointer started directly behind her place # 22, where she set up the NCAA rating record as a senior, the latest example of Clark's legacy and reach. The 1.3 million ESPN viewers who looked at the competition were also.

Indiana became unbeaten in the previous season. The fever has less than a week before her regular season starts at home against Angel Reese and Chicago Sky on Saturday.

Here are four thoughts about what Clark and the fever look like in an expected season.

1.

Indiana only returns five players from the last season's roster, and his front office has made a bonus to add experiences. Dewanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sydney Colson are former championship winners with other franchise companies, while Sophie Cunningham played with the Phoenix Mercury in 2021 WNBA final. Trainer Stephanie White used various starting sets in the three pre -season games of the fever. At the 81-76 pre-season victory on Saturday at the Atlanta Dream, Cunningham and Bonner came from the bank.

White said she wanted to see Cunningham's energy at the beginning and Bonner's production as a U -boot assignment. “We will probably continue during the week and make a little tinker,” said White. “But (the) previous season gives us a good opportunity to see what we like.”

Wache Lexie Hull also noticed White when he played next to Cunningham, and emphasized the duo's off-ball movement, the intensity in defense and communication.

The fever is still striving to build layers in their crime and to work on defensive covers, said White. With many new players, she hopes that Indiana's rotations will find out in the middle of the season.

“I don't expect that we are where we want to be,” said White about the beginning of the season. “My goal is the all-star break, so I have it in mind in terms of our development.”

2. Will Clarks Quad injury be a problem?

Clark was not in the injury report before the final of the pre -season against the dream in Indiana's pre -season. In front of Tippoff, however, she had to do with the left quadness. Clark had previously said she didn't know when or how she had suffered the injury.

“Our medical staff was very helpful and I feel really good,” she said on Friday.

White said that the fever had “long -term” about Clark's status and did not want to risk any further injuries. Clark moved well on Saturday, even when at least four players in Atlanta guard them. Clark ended with 13 points, seven templates and six rebounds. Nobody with the fever that was expressed is excessively concerned, but Clark's injury is worth monitoring because the season in Indiana begins.

The fever has to take two other health situations into account. The reserve Center Damiris Dantas did not play with an injury to the left lower leg on Saturday. Cunningham went with a right ankle injury in the middle of the third quarter. Cunningham wore a protection boot after the game, but White said Cunningham told her that she would be fine.

“I trust her,” said White.

3. Clark and Bonner look comfortable together

Clark's last assist on Saturday came with her most beautiful pass of the game of the game of three-quarter-stream passport for Bonner, who on the passport reflected the chemistry between the new teammates, whereby Clark knew that Bonn's sprinting along the ground and Bonn ready to catch and end Clarks passes.

Clark Half Half Bonner to Indiana, and 14-year-old veteran has already provided teammates.

“As she speaks and she leads, for me as a point guard in the second year, I would like to win for her,” said Clark earlier at the camp.

Added Bonner: “The relationship is going great. I love (Caitlin).”

Bonner's place in Indiana's rotation is clarified in the regular season, but her presence in the changing room can already be felt.

4.

The fever's squad mainly appears after three pre -season games. Indiana made three cuts to the exhibition on Saturday. Before the start of the season, it has to publish another player, although the decision is likely to be accompanied by striker Makayla Timpson, a choice for the second round in April draft or 26-year-old security guard Jaelyn Brown.

“(Timpsons) Ability to enter and influence from this postal position does not try to force things,” said White. “She allows you to come to her.

White added: “Brown is dynamic. It is sporty. She has a great ability to go downhill. She and Kelsey (Mitchell) are really fatal in this area. She is a great guard of the back bum.”

White said she was difficult to compare if you convey different skills.

A potential difference could be their respective contractual situations. Timpson has a rookie scale contract, and Indiana controls her rights for the next four seasons. Brown has a one -year business. With so much roster uncertainty in the next low season -Indiana only two players under contract next year, except Timpson -the security that the rookie would offer could have a distinction factor.

(Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

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