Much of the WNBA community was stunned Monday morning by the news that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will be out for at least two weeks due to a quadriceps injury in her left leg. Clark's absence will obviously impact her team, but it could also have ripple effects that reach out to the rest of the league — and especially to the Golden State Valkyries.
The Valkyries and the Fever don't meet for the first time until June 19, and hopefully Clark is back on the court well before then (though it's possible she could miss up to 6 weeks of the season depending on how bad the injury really is). So while the Valkyries will likely end up playing against an Indiana Fever that includes Clark in mid-June, there are other ways the team will feel the impact of her injury.
Casual fans might check out the new kids on the block
One immediate impact that Clark's absence might cause is that casual fans who initially tuned in to the WNBA because of the Fever star might give other teams a second glance, something Golden State could definitely benefit from. The team is already accustomed to playing to sold-out crowds at the Chase Center, an incredible accomplishment for an inaugural season, and some fans might explore other teams to see what other stars exist in the WNBA.
WNBA standings could totally change
Right now the Fever have lost two games and won two — and they only lost those first two matches by a combined three points. This year's Fever is very different than last year's (and could truly only be described as completely stacked), and odds are the team will still be a significant threat on the court.
But the possibility certainly exists that the Fever might take a few more losses as the team figures out new defensive and offensive schemes, something they likely weren't prepared to do so early in the season. While there's no doubt Coach White has plenty of back-up plans for her back-up plans and that ideas for how to play a Clark-less Fever exist, other teams in the league might take advantage of the temporary absence and rocket up the standings — and the Valkyries, who have won two games and lost one so far, could be one of them.
The Valkyries might play the Fever without Caitlin Clark
While it is certainly the hope that Clark will return to the court as soon as possible (two weeks from today is June 7, two days before the Fever play the Atlanta Dream again), it's possible Golden State could play the Indiana Fever without Caitlin Clark when the teams meet for the first time June 19 — and that might be something the Valkyries can use to their advantage.