Caitlin Clark's return to the floor on Friday night couldn't come at a better time for the Indiana Fever, and the timing carries some extra weight.
The Fever host the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and Clark is expected to be back after a late scratch in Wednesday's 90-73 win over the Portland Fire.
She was pulled from the lineup just 100 minutes before tipoff with back soreness, which raised some eyebrows around the league, given she hadn't appeared on the Tuesday injury report despite missing practice that morning.
The WNBA looked into it and issued a warning to the organization, but stopped short of a fine. Head coach Stephanie White downplayed the injury, saying the team just took the cautious route with their star.
Doug McSchooler/Special to IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Caitlin Clark Chasing Rare WNBA Record Against Golden State Valkyries
If Clark suits up on Friday, she'll be going after something only one other player in league history has pulled off. According to ESPN, a game of 20 points and 10 assists would give Clark her third straight outing with those numbers, a run that only Courtney Vandersloot has matched.
Clark has already done it once before, so a repeat would make her the only player in WNBA history to hit that mark twice across three consecutive games.
The stakes around her availability go beyond one night. Clark missed 28 games during an injury-hit 2025 season and keeping her healthy is central to everything Indiana wants to do this year. Through four games played, she's been as sharp as ever, putting up 24.3 points and 9 assists per game.
The Fever showed on Wednesday that they can get by without her. Aliyah Boston returned from a minor leg injury to score 24 points, and Kelsey Mitchell added 21 as Indiana handled Portland with some depth.
But Golden State is a different test, and the Fever, sitting at 3-2 and eighth in the early standings, will need Clark back in the mix to keep pace.
Friday night at Gainbridge is a chance to prove this team has another level with their best player back on the court.
