Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark All-Star Weekend Withdrawal

Caitlin Clark, the WNBA's most electrifying talent and biggest ticket draw, will miss All-Star Weekend in her backyard. The Indiana Fever superstar announced Thursday she's withdrawing from both Saturday's All-Star Game and Friday's 3-Point Contest due to a right groin injury sustained in Tuesday's win over Connecticut.

Clark earned over 1.3 million All-Star votes, more than any other player, making her a team captain for the showcase at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. She was scheduled to compete in her first-ever 3-Point Contest.

The timing couldn't be worse from a business perspective. All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis was essentially designed as a celebration of Clark's impact on the sport. Without her participation, the WNBA loses its primary storyline and much of its mainstream media appeal.

This marks Clark's third absence this season due to injury concerns. She's dealt with a quad strain that cost her five games in May, a left groin injury that sidelined her for four games in June, and now this latest setback. For someone who played all 40 games as a rookie, this sophomore season injury pattern raises questions about workload management and long-term sustainability.