# Fever's Caitlin Clark to sit out game vs. Sparks due to back

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-26 14:22 UTC · Category: Sports · Sources: 9 · Current Velocity: 7.5

## Executive Summary
Caitlin Clark will miss the Fever's upcoming game against the Sparks following a back injury and a reckless hit from Alyssa Thomas.

## Intelligence Brief
Caitlin Clark is sidelined for the Indiana Fever's game against the Los Angeles Sparks due to a back injury. The absence follows an incident involving Alyssa Thomas, who was suspended by the WNBA for recklessly hitting Clark in the throat during a scramble.


Coverage from ESPN, Fox News, and Bleacher Report highlights the disciplinary action against Thomas and the resulting injury. Additionally, WISH-TV reports that Fever president Kelly Krauskopf has released a statement regarding player safety, while Yahoo Sports notes Dave Portnoy's criticism of the Phoenix Mercury for deleting a post mocking the incident.


Attention now turns to the return timeline provided by the Fever head coach and the league's ongoing handling of player safety.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Why is Caitlin Clark sitting out the game against the Sparks?
She is sitting out due to an ailing back.

### What happened to Alyssa Thomas?
The WNBA suspended Thomas for 'recklessly' hitting Clark in the throat during a scramble.

### Who responded to the incident regarding player safety?
Fever president Kelly Krauskopf released a statement on the matter.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
WNBA, Fever, Clark, Alyssa Thomas, Fever's Caitlin Clark, Sparks, Dave Portnoy Calls Phoenix Mercury Cowards Over Deleted Post Mocking Caitlin Clark Incident, Kelly Krauskopf, Caitlin Clark Out, Injury After Alyssa Thomas Incident Fever HC Updates Return Timeline

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| www.espn.com | Fever will sit Clark vs. Sparks due to ailing back... | 2026-06-26 17:08 | [Source Link](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49187377/fever-caitlin-clark-sit-game-vs-sparks-due-back) |
| IndyStar | Indiana Fever vs Los Angeles Sparks live score timeline: Where to watch, is Caitlin Clark playing? | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAJBVV95cUxPa2JSOWlMd3VmV2NKZG00cXQza3lJQWpHU3JEN1ZRNGd4Qlk3R2dITEk2VHVSbWhudS1CdkVfRjljeEEzNlNaRVJya0RPM3VtS3VfYU1XZ3dnd0UtblNFbHZuekRCcDNIT2t3NWxWU0xrOHFRb0ZkVVBiZU5KZExSLUU0WHcybkVYbXdwS2RtWjQ3SmFlRncxbWJlV3ViZ1ZVNjJYekNvQmF4U2d1ckFicTFuRWdWeDJiOGZmTFQ4R2FjMUJsN3J4WmxtaDhUekhjRHR4bmJpUEdpY1NZNWhHSm9JTHo4cGI5RGVWYVUwRkJnZ0s1SEMtTWpGZUlfdGt4Z0lQMmh6TzluOWRwQUtuYUZvSEE?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks: How to watch Caitlin Clark's next game tonight, time, channel and more | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi6wFBVV95cUxOZGVSc1ZRaWpmZnRSS2VZemlralFIV1ItUE1aMDduZXdLZ0pUUGVESnpjR0lBMU5vWlNiUV95RHlSOURfMC1SdTVrdUlDZTNlU2lINEZTRzVpT1hiQm1WQzB2cWxfVFZaMWlrb0t5dzR5R3Q1c0lDcldxSGxSSWs0aHZaV1FEblM5MFVPNHpCbVhjdmhxSWZlVU1yMEZwZnpHc05iV01jd0oyVnRab3FyZHFKRnZ4QW9sZDEwVHRZYkNNM2VKVkxmRWdIQ2dSLXFSdnlhY1didWRfUTVta3YwSkMycXIxYlpNZGRN?oc=5) |
| NBC News | Caitlin Clark to miss game against Sparks with back injury | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxOZ2R4YVg4a1VqT25KaFJVQ0NtVU9YTjNnelJza29MZlNDX05ubmZSMFpnRWpQS2xSUGdBYXNVZTFJYTU1OXpNTndNbkQ3ZkFrNWRiVmhpLTBvOVhaMnFpSWJVSFVadHAwbjMyVERhMHg5ajJHQjV5ZG1ZdnFaaU94RGpzMGdBY0NjWnZQN01xc1ZzY1p2R0NONkFqdTAwRmR6X2hwTmdOanFuRTk5Tlh2QUM3NThEMzBQ?oc=5) |
| Hawk Central | How to watch Fever vs. Sparks WNBA game tonight without Caitlin Clark | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwJBVV95cUxPREVpbXkwaGhIS1dSQ19OMzBydWdQQlFIXzc0ZjU5Z2RvcEVSRkV5MXpNakpZMXlVYjNCTUdaY2RvdEtkZzF4eHlnZ2ljeDFXVGs4ZmpCVDNLY2sycVk3a3Y1aGIxMk5vUVU5MFJiaE9TM2Q3ZHJ4MjJ3OWNhTExuOEsyWW5ja1NXX3EzNE9JQWkzdGRzM3hNTVktM0IxMWNlYlNfaUtQVVU2QlFJbWRaUmZ1U0JGSk5fcmUtZ0M2cmllQUN6eVl0QzBjbHdCZUt5bG10d2xMS1lOMXBvSWRDU1JUazYtQTVBRHRKOEJWeHpDOUNpUVo1MHhJOTdmZ1IyM3haeE1jUTRBLTVmM0l3?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | Caitlin Clark Out with Injury After Alyssa Thomas Incident, Fever HC Updates Return Timeline | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiywFBVV95cUxPNUp3SlNpRTRnTkdPdTVLX2ZuaWNhb2Q3QXUzZUxVZDk4WWhzMF9qY2JRb0QyV2J6V2MwbGp1M2U1M1ZxMVhYUktTSEdMZkQ1TXNaT2RMbU5wRE90ZlFiM29Pdl83bUd4akFZOWpVblNlb3BueEJMNTI3STFYdWhoWWdfV0ZHTy1ESEQ3ZmZQWmFjNFhLZVpJM09BcEVVcXVoT3BOQTl2X1B4OEJMMkJxdWJnNWhCWm4wN1hUQmh3OTlGeHVpUWVsbk9fbw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Dave Portnoy Calls Phoenix Mercury 'Cowards' Over Deleted Post Mocking Caitlin Clark Incident | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxPbDBBZmxtSVZkeFl2QkEzcXM3emJUQUxNMUMwNFJHc0xXSUFTN1hlLTNadE9lWng0SmExQzFmaVlrckJfM25wU0dKSnBhSkZ3d0JoRXUzVnVEcHVYNDc4MUVteklydGRfbEZmMHE4eXZxNzVXQkJMdnlER1hRc1VjVTFjWE1UWXJvTzBZ?oc=5) |
| WISH-TV | Fever president Kelly Krauskopf releases statement on player safety | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxQZjJabzBwVEZpZXZXd2tfTUhNZ05BZDZLTHgtTGhiMFdhaEdhWFZ3TkZLVFFXQjFHdDNNMUtNSWlIcU1jRDF5ajVtMkRIWThfSVdSTWpHcVZmNldUTHdaNnQxREUyRkk0UC1aVmVaYmpaTHdsWHhRTVc0VTNfZmJSYTNoNk56Y3JDZVdOSWRtelFlUWJsRXcxOFVYY2JCV0xDNDJXbGRCaUV0c0d0bXRVVGln?oc=5) |
| Fox News | WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas for 'recklessly' hitting Caitlin Clark in throat during scramble | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxQT3NPZUhkVUxISWNlTnNiVXJSZEFmcFRtaEk1Q2gtOWxadVM2eUd0cGlxaDJ6MWZEdVk2NURLbkctdTFDSlpJTXlpZlFyRUF4RVNLWUxFeGxSTFd4NkdRa0ZaNkRMS283SmU5UFBzTnRGU0tvSVNEMlhXOE1KVzNnamZyNllNMWZYTzRsNE5DNTZybmlnU3Noa0Yzb1Q1T1Vndmk0WkRseTc2YmvSAbABQVVfeXFMTXFlUE9hUlUwazBlcmlhN1lCX2lqa2FFTElJSXdBSzZEVlVsZWRjNHlKa3d6azZsN1RLTVVHalBITndKdE5LSlNpZ3VvWlpqeVliUEZucFdnbXdGcUo5OVRJdk1vQWxkbDZqTDdwTVY2VEp5YVFHTEhwMGpZTTByRXVhN1YxSUFRMjJUbjl1SlVXd0NWSHhYVGdIQkdkVTktekJtNElwc0Z) |
| ESPN | Fever's Caitlin Clark to sit out game vs. Sparks due to back | 2026-06-26 15:07 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxQX3J1QW1qSTVSTDBIQ0lLZ29NRG1fWk56U01jY29fbjV0TFVhR0FfV25wdlNTSU1ITi14ckhnMFY3LWZwZ1J4VU5YNzg0NUd2cThURVpQVW5IdjNjdW1fLUJIeXRCM2o5VXAwZ2RndHFjZkFud1pNV0YwQzh3MGNoMVI0dWpHdVBRWnFOVDhaVktaWHlydW5teQ?oc=5) |

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