Caitlin Clark's back injury for Fever may trace to dirty play in 2025 season
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Caitlin Clark's recent back injury news has thrown a wrench into plans for the Indiana Fever. While she seems likely to play through the pain going forward, it's also not the update you want about your franchise player.
It also begs the question of when Clark first got hurt. Clearly, she's a player who other teams don't hold back with as far as physicality, so there are plenty of moments to possibly point to.
Some fans on social media have picked out one in particular, though -- Marina Mabrey's shove of Clark after a play during the 2025 season.
In a physical game, Mabrey decided she'd send a message to Clark with a post-play takedown:
Closer look in slow motion pic.twitter.com/oDcx9NeGAe
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) June 18, 2025
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In the offseason, Mabrey acknowledged, "That was too far."
“That was too far”
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) February 15, 2026
Marina Mabrey describes her shove on Caitlin Clark as “shameful”, and says her emotions got the best of her pic.twitter.com/u2jxl0nvqP
Is it the source of what Clark's dealing with now? It's impossible to know, but that's the connection some are making.
Evelyn DR asks if Caitlin Clark might have back misalignment problems bc of Marina Mabrey body knockdown check https://t.co/EXgrXlEkG9
— Pete Baker (@petebaker78) May 14, 2026
Clark is a target for opposing defenses, and she'll have to continue to figure out how to deal with that going forward.
In the near-term, the Fever simply have to figure out how to get their star back on the floor and keep her there.
Indiana can win without Clark, but the Fever and the WNBA as a whole are better with her on the court. Everyone involved will be hoping that a cheap shot from last season doesn't keep her down.