Caitlin Clark Reveals She Ruptured Her Eardrum After Running into Screen vs. Liberty

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJune 21, 2024

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Indiana Fever rookie star guard Caitlin Clark revealed to reporters that she suffered a ruptured eardrum after running into a screen while defending during a road game against the New York Liberty.

Meghan L. Hall of USA Today provided the video:

Meghan L. Hall @ItsMeghanLHallCaitlin Clark on her “Welcome to the W” moment:

“I actually ruptured my ear drum when we were in New York on a tough screen….great screens, I just didn’t hear them. So, it’s kind of my own fault.”

(Q: @3ptCnvrsn) #WNBA pic.twitter.com/XBJFUJ0wZt

Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star provided more information.

Chloe Peterson @chloepeterson67Clark never missed a game for the ruptured eardrum, just said it was a little hard to hear. It happened in New York in the fourth on June 2, and she left the game because of it.

Indiana didn’t play again until June 7, and she was cleared and practiced as normal beforehand. https://t.co/I0A9yorF92

Thankfully, Clark didn’t miss any time with the injury. And now Indiana is rolling going into a Friday matchup with the Atlanta Dream as winners of three straight.

Clark, a two-time consensus player of the year at Iowa, has averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Clark’s answer was in response to a question regarding her “Welcome to the W” moment. As Peterson noted, Clark has now suffered two minor injuries on the record, as she tweaked her ankle during the second quarter in the Fever’s May 20 matchup against the Connecticut Sun on May 20.

Clark limped off but didn’t miss much playing time, getting back to the bench quickly and suiting up for the splayed the second half as normal.