Caitlin Clark expects to play tonight when the Indiana Fever host the Golden State Valkyries after missing the past five games with a left groin injury.

The All-Star captain participated in practice Monday which was open to season ticket holders, playing in a 5-on-5 scrimmage. It was the first time she’d done that since getting hurt on June 26. Barring any setbacks, Clark will be available to play Wednesday.

“It’s nice to get back out there and get back into the flow of playing with my teammates again,” Clark told reporters after practice Tuesday. “It’s going to be fun to get back out there hopefully and just feel things again. ... It’s obviously hard sitting out and watching for a few weeks, so I’m excited to get out there.”

It was Clark’s second injury of the season. She’s only played in nine of the team’s 18 games this season as well as the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final which saw the Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx. Clark had a left quad injury that forced her to miss five games last month.

“I hope to play a decent amount — in the upper 20s. I guess it depends on how the game goes and how I feel and what the team needs,” Clark said. “But I feel pretty good. But I’m going to try to not overdo it and put myself in a good position moving forward.”

Mystics 81, Sky 79: Shakira Austin scored 15 points, including two free throws with 2.8 seconds left, and Washington beat Chicago on the campus of George Mason University.

Austin missed two free throws with 31.8 seconds left but Washington secured the offensive rebound and she made a driving layup for a 79-77 lead.

After Angel Reese made two free throws with 14.9 seconds left to tie it at 79, Austin was fouled on a drive to the basket and converted both for the lead. Rachel Banham was off the mark on a half-court shot at the buzzer.

Sonia Citron scored eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter for Washington (9-10). Kiki Iriafen had 11 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double this season, tying Chamique Holdsclaw’s Mystics rookie record. Brittney Sykes also scored 11.

Reese finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds for Chicago (5-13) to extend her WNBA record to six straight games with 15-plus rebounds. The Baltimore native secured her sixth straight double-double in the first half with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Elizabeth Williams added 20 points for Chicago, Banham had 13 and Ariel Atkins, who spent her first seven seasons with Washington, scored 11.

Mercury 102, Wings 72: Sami Whitcomb scored 29 of her career-high 36 points in the first half, Alyssa Thomas had her 16th career triple-double and Phoenix beat visiting Dallas late Monday to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season.

Whitcomb’s 29 were the most points scored by a WNBA player in any half this season.

Whitcomb scored 22 points in the opening 12 minutes to help Phoenix build a 33-21 lead. She made 10 of her first 12 field goals, with her sixth 3-pointer giving Phoenix a 46-33 lead.

Whitcomb was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 8:27 left in the third quarter and made two free throws to set a new career high with 31 points. She missed the third free throw, but Phoenix got the offensive rebound and Whitcomb drained a 3-pointer for a 59-42 lead.

Whitcomb, who entered with a season high of 18 points, finished 12 of 19 from the field, including 7 of 11 from 3-point range.

Thomas had 15 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds for Phoenix (13-6), which reached the century mark for the third time in five games. Satou Sabally (right ankle) missed her first game of the season.

JJ Quinerly scored 18 points and Aziaha James added 15 for Dallas (6-14). Paige Bueckers scored 11 in 24 minutes. The Wings were without starters Arike Ogunbowale (left thumb) and DiJonai Carrington (rib).

Dream 90, Valkyries 81: Allisha Gray scored 24 points, Naz Hillmon had 16 points and a career-high four 3-pointers, and the Atlanta Dream controlled the fourth quarter to beat visiting Golden State on Monday night.