{"id":74341,"date":"2025-07-19T03:20:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T03:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/74341\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T03:20:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T03:20:15","slug":"fever-players-active-caitlin-clark-out-with-injury-lexie-hull-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/74341\/","title":{"rendered":"Fever Players Active, Caitlin Clark Out With Injury, Lexie Hull In"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s Indianapolis\u2019 time to shine once again, and they\u2019re delivering.<\/p>\n

The city and Indiana Fever answered when the WNBA reached out asking if they would be interested in hosting All-Star Weekend for the first time<\/a>. There was a conflict with Dallas, per league source, and after several conversations, the Fever accepted.<\/p>\n

And when this city does something, it goes all-in. No shortcuts.<\/p>\n

They set a new standard.<\/p>\n

\"FirstFirst Look: WNBA takes over downtown Indy ahead of All-Star Weekend<\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s now become the expectation with big events \u2014\u00a0from March Madness to the Big Ten Football Championship Game, WWE, etc. It certainly helped that they just hosted NBA All-Star Weekend 17 months ago.<\/p>\n

Things got rolling on Thursday as most arrived to town. For those flying in, there was no question about what was going on in Indy. Banners, details, and even a replica basketball court were showcased at Indianapolis International Airport.<\/p>\n

As guests exited down the escalator, there was a banner of Caitlin Clark and Gatorade greeting them to town \u2014 then baggage claim was decked out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The primary item on the players\u2019 agenda this weekend was an important meeting Thursday afternoon. It was negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the WNBA. The current one is set to expire at the end of October.<\/p>\n

More than 40 players from across the league were there to listen, participate, and show their support as they want more from the league given its record growth. There will be a lot more on this in the next few months.<\/p>\n

Several players made clear on Friday that the sides remain far apart. They\u2019re not even close to the same zip code. It starts with a larger share of pie, and the players are seeking revenue sharing.<\/p>\n

Later Thursday, Stephanie White<\/strong> was part of a special event hosted at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse\u00a0\u2014 just a few blocks from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.<\/p>\n

White (like me) enjoys wine \u2014\u00a0and so fittingly, she was invited to be the special guest at an event for Jackson Family Wines. It was moderated by ESPN\u2019s Marc Spears<\/strong> and hosted by wine educator Katie Werthmuller<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There were countless parties and events downtown Thursday. One of them was a Fever welcome party attended by the players. A good time was had.<\/p>\n

The day began early \u2014\u00a0very early \u2014 for a handful of Fever players on Friday. As in 6:30 a.m. or so.<\/p>\n

The All-Star host committee invited ABC\u2019s \u201cGood Morning America\u201d to do the show from Indy, setting set the table for a big weekend. So ABC went live from Morris Bicentennial Plaza, just north of The Fieldhouse.<\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark<\/strong>, Aliyah Boston<\/strong>, Kelsey Mitchell<\/strong>, and Sydney Colson<\/strong> joined, as did other players and musical guests BIA<\/strong> and G-Eazy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s basketball in Indianapolis (and across the league) has underwent a significant transformation over the last 15 months thanks to Clark arriving at the No. 1 draft pick.<\/p>\n

Truly, every game is a home game.<\/p>\n

For the second year in a row, she was the top vote getter for the All-Star game. And she committed to making her 3-point contest debut in Indy.<\/p>\n

That vision stalled out and never happened after she suffered a right groin injury Tuesday against Connecticut. She sat out of the back-to-back in New York \u2014 and is now out for formal All-Star events.<\/p>\n

She issued the following message through the team.<\/p>\n

\n

I’m so excited for Indy to host WNBA<\/p>\n

All-Star this weekend. I want to thank the Indianapolis Host Committee and all of the people that have put endless work in over the past year to put this event together. I know this will be the best All-Star yet.<\/p>\n

I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game. I have to rest my body.<\/p>\n

I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I’m looking forward to helping Sandy coach our team to a win.<\/p>\n

Can’t wait to see you all out there!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Tickets are already sold out. But her absence from the court will definitely impact interest and the TV audience \u2014\u00a0which was 3.44 million one year ago, easily a new record.<\/p>\n

Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes<\/strong> and Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones<\/strong> were named as All-Star replacements by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. <\/strong>They replaced Clark and Satou Sabally<\/strong> (Mercury).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The All-Stars were at The Fieldhouse for the first time on Friday morning for a light practice and a media session. All players were made available on Salesforce Court, where the Fever practice.<\/p>\n

Most conversations centered around CBA talks, especially the likes of Nneka Ogwumike, Napheesa Collier, <\/strong>and Breanna Stewart.<\/strong> It\u2019s good that they\u2019re getting major platforms to share their feelings and priorities.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s also supposed to be a weekend for fun and to celebrate the league. It\u2019s a balancing act, difficult to do both well at the same time.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

We heard from Boston and Mitchell as they discussed the CBA, as well as another All-Star nod, the Fever\u2019s togetherness, and supporting one another.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

It was Captain Clark, since Caitlin was automatically one of two team captains based on All-Star voting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Since the injury, however, she\u2019s now Coach C.<\/p>\n

She plans to have fun at the game, and help head coach Sandy Brondello<\/strong> from the New York Liberty. But let\u2019s be real: it\u2019s an All-Star game; there\u2019s not a ton of coaching.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no way it doesn\u2019t bother Clark to miss this time. She\u2019s a competitor and wants to be out there. But she needs rest \u2014 and for her body to get right. She\u2019s been dealing with injuries since Week 1 of training camp.<\/p>\n

Mitchell was the only one to make the half-court shot to end practice. Call it home-court advantage.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

At 8 a.m. Friday, the WNBA announced that Fever guard Lexie Hull<\/strong> would replace Clark in the 3-point contest. She\u2019d be one of five competitors.<\/p>\n

Hull is close with Clark, she was a first-round pick of the Fever and is popular among fans. However, she has also shot the 3-ball really well. She\u2019s made 46.8% of attempts, which ranks fourth in the league.<\/p>\n

So she earned it.<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t get to practice and tried to maximize the five-minute warmup, but there were a lot of decisions to make on the fly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was trying to figure out whether to pull from the left or pull from the right, where to put the money ball rack, which side to start,\u201d she said afterward. \u201cThere’s so many choices. I didn’t even know that you had all these choices.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think more than anything, it’s over so fast. So you really only have one chance. If you have a tough start\u00a0\u2014\u00a0I had a tough start\u00a0\u2014\u00a0it\u2019s hard to get back into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hull, wearing the team\u2019s navy uniform, elected to start on the right corner (in front of the Fever bench). She missed her first four attempts, but made the money ball on the first rack.<\/p>\n

As she said, a tough start.<\/p>\n

There were five racks, plus two Starry balls wroth three points each. The top two scores moved on to the final round.<\/p>\n

Hull\u2019s 20 points were not good enough to advance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s awesome, it’s so fun,\u201d she said, beaming. \u201cThe fans were great. I definitely felt them. I heard them. I wish I could do it again right now because I feel like I was so nervous at the start and all of us were. So it’s just a fun experience, really proud to be part of it, proud to represent the Fever. It’s been a fun weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

After she was eliminated, Hull went over to say hi her teammates courtside. There was a large group of them. Clark handed Hull her cup to drink from. Looked like a refreshing beverage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was disappointed because I wanted to make it to the finals for them and because they were there supporting me,\u201d said Hull. \u201cSo I’m so just grateful for their support. A lot of them came out tonight and yeah, we’ll have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier in the day, this funny moment happened after practice. Sabrina Ionescu<\/strong> volunteered as a ball rack as rookie Sonia Citron<\/strong> got shots up.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n