Clark pulls out of All-Star duties in order to rest her injured groin

AROUND THE WNBA

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Indiana’s Caitlin Clark watches as she sits out Wednesday’s game against the New York Liberty due to a sore groin. She also pulled out of All-Star weekend. Frank Franklin II / AP

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Caitlin Clark is out of All-Star weekend.

The Indiana Fever guard injured her right groin on Tuesday night in the final minute of the team’s win over the Connecticut Sun. She said Thursday in a message posted on X that she had to rest her body.

“I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game,” Clark said in the message posted by the Fever. “I have to rest my body. I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I’m looking forward to helping (Liberty coach Sandy Brondello) coach our team to a win.”

Clark was supposed to compete in a loaded 3-point contest tonight and is captain of one of the All-Star teams. The second-year guard was the leading vote getter from the fans and has been a huge reason the league has had a boon in attendance and ratings over the last two seasons.

Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes and Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones were announced as replacements for the All-Star Game by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The pair replace Clark and Phoenix’s Satou Sabally, who is also injured and can’t play in Saturday’s game. This will be Sykes’ first All-Star appearance and Jones will be playing in her fourth one.

They haven’t announced a replacement for Clark in the 3-point contest.

Players, officials meet to talk CBA

Backed by what they said was their largest attendance ever for collective bargaining negotiations, WNBA players met with the league Thursday with the sides far apart in discussions for a new deal.

Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese were among about 40 players, most wearing business suits, who took part in the first face-to-face meeting featuring players since December. The two sides met for a couple of hours.

“I’m just so inspired by the amount of players that showed up, the engagement that was there,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said. “Because the more that happens, the more that we’re going to be able to get things done.”

Players opted out of the current CBA last October and are seeking a better revenue sharing model, increased salaries, improved benefits, and a softer salary cap. All of those will help many of the younger players down the road like Reese.

“It was something that was very informative for me. First time being able to see and hear, the wording, from both sides,” Reese said.

The sides are far apart in preliminary discussions and agreed to another meeting. If a deal isn’t done by the end of October, some players have mentioned the potential of a walkout, which could present some problems. The league has two teams in Portland and Toronto starting next season and the expansion draft has typically been in December.