Caitlin Clark returns from a back issue, scores 22 in Fever's win over Valkyries

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark scored 22 points after missing a game with a back issue and led the Indiana Fever to a 90-82 win over Golden State on Friday night.

Clark said before the game that her decision to not play Wednesday against Portland because of a sore back was mostly dictated by her confidence level in her body. She returned this season from a plethora of injuries that limited her to 13 games last year.

“I think, at the end of the day, it’s me and my confidence,” Clark said Friday. “Coming back from injury and having however many soft tissue injuries (last season) is a real mental challenge.”

It was the first game she had missed this season. She said that her confidence has gone up and down.

“These are the best players in the world, and if I don’t feel 100 percent confident in my body on Game 5 of the year,” Clark said, “I don’t know if that’s really worth it in that scenario.”

The third-year Fever star played 32 minutes and had nine assists against the Fire.

“I think a lot of the times, it’s for me the next day, understanding how my body feels and understanding that a little bit better,” Clark said. “Obviously, your adrenaline is pumping, you don’t always understand right after the game. ... Overall, I feel good. It’s just continuing to take care of my body.”

The WNBA issued the Fever a warning on Thursday about how they handled reporting Clark's injury. She hadn't been on the injury report despite not practicing Tuesday. She was ruled out 100 minutes before Wednesday's game.

Clark said that she received treatment on Tuesday and planned to plan Wednesday. She woke up Wednesday morning feeling a little bit sore and did some physical therapy at home. She got in a pregame workout before deciding not to play.

“I actually went back and looked because of all these narratives that are going crazy online, about when I told my mom I wasn’t going to play the game: 4:47,” Clark said. “You guys found out at 5:20. So one of the most important people in my life found out 40 minutes before you guys.”

Indiana doesn't play again until next Thursday at Golden State.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball