Overview

• Caitlin Clark has been ruled out indefinitely with a right groin injury and has missed 12 games this season without a clear return timetable.
• Jonquel Jones made her first appearance since June 19 and immediately contributed 18 points and nine rebounds in New York’s 98-84 victory over Indiana.
• The Liberty have won four straight games since Jones’s return, moving to 16-6 and solidifying their second-place spot in the standings.
• The WNBA’s expanded 44-game schedule and recent spate of lower-body injuries have prompted teams to adopt cautious return-to-play protocols for star players.
• Despite Clark’s absence, Indiana has maintained a 12-12 record and clings to a playoff berth through balanced contributions from Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston and other role players.