Caitlin Clark remonstratingCaitlin Clark (Photo via Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Caitlin Clark has been ruled out of the Indiana Fever’s upcoming game against the Atlanta Dream.

The sharpshooting point guard has been sidelined with a quad injury since May 26, and team doctors were supposed to re-evaluate her after two weeks. It appears she’s still not ready, as head coach Stephanie White has revealed that Tuesday’s game against Atlanta comes too soon for her.

According to White, Clark is “ready to start ramping back up,” but isn’t in the clear as yet.

“It’s completely different when you’re just doing one-on-one workouts and when you’re out there in five-on-five, getting up and down the floor, moving laterally,” the coach told reporters on Monday.

She added:

“We’re gonna be smart, and we’re gonna be cautious, and we’re gonna play the long game and work her back in very intentionally.”

Caitlin Clark’s Favorite Teammate Also Set To Remain Out

Caitlin Clark pointingCaitlin Clark (Photo via Imagn Images)
White also addressed Sophie Cunningham’s injury while speaking to the media to start the week. Clark’s new teammate, whom she’s become very close to, is also sidelined, having aggravated an ankle injury several times.

Cunningham remains limited in practice, and the Fever aren’t planning to risk her.

“This is an injury that she’s aggravated a few times now this season, so making sure we’re playing the long game and doing it the right way,” White explained.

Tuesday’s game against the Dream will mark the fourth one Caitlin Clark has missed this season after encountering the problem in a loss to the New York Liberty.

Indiana is 2-2 without Clark and 4-4 overall to start the season. White is keen on having both Clark and Cunningham back “in basketball condition” before allowing them to return to the team.

“Both of them being out for long periods of time, you gotta work your way back into being game-ready,” she said.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’