Could Caitlin Clark's injury woes threaten her 2025 MVP chances?

Caitlin Clark's chances of winning league MVP may dwindle with her missing more games.

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has confirmed the star guard won't play in Thursday's home game against the Las Vegas Aces because of a groin injury.

Clark is now slated to miss her fourth straight game and has already missed seven this season. Before this season, the 23-year-old guard had never missed a professional or college game. 

"My goal has always been the same," White told the media Wednesday. "I don't want this to be something that lingers, that we come back too soon. We want to make sure that she is 100% ready to go and that we put her long-term health and wellness at the forefront." 

Playing the long game with Clark's health is something the Fever should do. She's already considered their franchise cornerstone and the face of the league. 

But the more games she misses, the less likely she is to win MVP, especially with other stars generating spectacular numbers. 

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier led the league in scoring through her first 13 games, averaging a career-high 24.4 points per game. 

Phoenix Mercury guard Alyssa Thomas, meanwhile, registered 9.3 assists per game through her first 12 games, the best mark in the league. 

Clark has averaged 18.2 PPG and 8.9 APG through her first nine games but struggled the last time she played. After returning from a left quadriceps strain on June 14, she shot a below-average 27.9% from three-point land in her next five games. In her last game against the Seattle Storm, she scored a season-low six points while shooting 3-of-13 from the field. 

Perhaps more time off will help her find her shooting touch. 

"[Clark] wants to play, and she's working to play and she has been working to play," White said. "I think it's five games before the All-Star break, so let's just ease her mind, even though she's antsy. And let's do this the right way and make sure we're ready to go and 100% when she comes back." 

As of Wednesday night, FanDuel Sportsbook still gives Clark the second-best MVP odds (+500) behind Collier (-360). However, if she can't get healthy, those odds may drop.