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WNBA: Fever’s Clark set to return Wednesday; Mercury bring back Bonner

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The Indiana Fever are expected to have Caitlin Clark back in the lineup Wednesday against the expansion Golden State Valkyries after the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year missed four games with a left groin injury.

Clark, who last played on June 24, participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage at practice Tuesday.

“It’s nice to get back out there and get back into the flow of playing with my teammates again,” Clark told reporters after practice.

“It’s going to be fun to get back out there hopefully and just feel things again. ... It’s obviously hard sitting out and watching for a few weeks, so I’m excited to get out there.”

It’s the second injury Clark has battled this season after a left quad strain kept her out for five games.

The Fever have managed to stay afloat with a 9-9 record despite playing half of their games without the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, who is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, five rebounds and 1.6 steals.

One of Clark’s ex-teammates, meanwhile, rejoined her former club Tuesday as DeWanna Bonner – the third-leading scorer in WNBA history – signed with the Phoenix Mercury (13-6).

Bonner was selected by Phoenix with the fifth overall pick in 2009, winning the first of three straight WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year awards that season.

The Mercury were WNBA champions in 2009 and again in 2014 before Bonner was traded to the Connecticut Sun in February 2020.

A two-time All-WNBA selection, Bonner spent five seasons with Connecticut before signing a one-year deal with Indiana this past off-season.

Bonner, though, played in just nine games with the Fever and was released on June 25 after the team was unable to find a trade partner for the 37-year-old guard-forward.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have DeWanna back in a Mercury uniform,” Phoenix general manager Nick U’Ren said.

“She is a true winner, leader and one of the most talented and versatile players in our game.”