Caitlin Clark to Miss WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Final Due to Injury
MINNEAPOLIS — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will not play in Tuesday night’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship against the Minnesota Lynx (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video) as she continues to recover from a groin injury, the team announced.
Clark, initially listed as questionable, did not participate in media-viewed practice Tuesday, confirming her absence. This marks her third straight game sidelined with the injury. Earlier this season, she missed five games with a quad issue.
Key Details on Clark’s Absence
- The Commissioner’s Cup final is an extra game and does not count toward the WNBA’s 44-game regular season.
- Clark participated in non-contact practice Monday, per Fever coach Stephanie White, but was not cleared for game action.
- Despite the injury, Clark was named an All-Star starter and captain Monday after leading fan voting. The WNBA All-Star Game is set for July 19 in Indianapolis.
Lynx vs. Fever: Cup Showdown
The defending champion Lynx (14-2), the WNBA’s top team, host the Fever (8-8), who are making their first Cup final appearance since the in-season tournament began in 2021. The winning team earns a $500,000 prize pool.
Chicago Sky Partner with Tech Firm to Combat Online Harassment
In a separate development, the Chicago Sky announced a partnership with Moonshot, a cybersecurity firm that helps track and mitigate online threats. The deal makes the Sky the first WNBA team to collaborate with the company, which previously assisted the FBI in identifying a stalker targeting Caitlin Clark.
How Moonshot Helped Protect Clark
- In January, a 55-year-old Indianapolis man was arrested for stalking Clark after Moonshot flagged threatening and obsessive social media posts.
- The firm’s CEO, Vidhya Ramalingam, told ESPN the suspect alternated between romantically delusional messages and violent threats.
- The case followed a similar 2023 incident involving a man who stalked UConn’s Paige Bueckers.
Broader Impact on WNBA Player Safety
- 92% of women in public life face online abuse, with 31% involving sexual harassment, per Moonshot data.
- Sky co-owner Nadia Rawlinson emphasized the need to protect athletes, particularly women of color and LGBTQ+ players, who face disproportionate harassment.
- The partnership will monitor social media and dark web activity, removing harmful content and assessing credible threats.
League-Wide Concerns Over Online Abuse
The WNBA has previously investigated harassment targeting players, including Angel Reese, after her physical altercation with Clark in June. While the league found no verified hate speech, the incident underscored growing concerns as women’s sports gain visibility.
Rawlinson noted that sports betting, AI misuse, and rising fandom have exacerbated online abuse. “Hate has no place in sports,” she said. “This partnership ensures our players can focus on basketball.”
What’s Next for Clark and the Fever?
- Clark’s priority is recovering before the All-Star Game and the Fever’s playoff push.
- Indiana’s next regular-season game is July 6 vs. the New York Liberty.
- The Lynx, heavy favorites without Clark, aim to repeat as Commissioner’s Cup champions.
Final Thoughts
Clark’s absence is a blow to the Fever’s Cup hopes, but her health remains the priority. Meanwhile, the Sky’s groundbreaking anti-harassment initiative reflects the WNBA’s commitment to player safety amid rising scrutiny.