Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever face major setback ahead of playoffs as Temi Fagbenle suffers third injury

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever may have to miss again one of their reliable auxiliaries in Temi Fagbenle ahead of the WNBA playoffs as she is ruled with a right shoulder injury. No official word yet on how long she will be out but she is already questionable for their game against the LA Sparks on Wednesday.

IndyStar Sports writer Chloe Peterson shared the information on Fagbenle's latest injury, her third this season, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter:

"Temi Fagbenle seems to have suffered a third injury this season, as she is questionable for tomorrow's game with a right shoulder injury. A tough setback for Fagbenle. who has missed significant time already with a foot and thumb injury."

Temi Fagbenle, 31, has only been limited to just 16 games for the Fever (17-16) this season. But when she is on the floor, she has been steady for 6.5 points, 5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks for 19 minutes off the bench.

The injury could not have come at bad timing as Indiana has been rolling well following the Olympic break, going 6-1, to thrust itself to the sixth position in the race for the playoffs, somewhere it has not been to since 2016.

The Fever's game against the Sparks will be the first of six games at home as they hit the home stretch of their regular season schedule. Their last game will be on the road against the Washington Mystics on Sept. 19.

Temi Fagbenle appreciates what Caitlin Clark brings to the Indiana Fever

Temi Fagbenle's time on the court with rookie sensation Caitlin Clark has been limited so far because of various injuries but she has grown to appreciate what the freshman guard has brought to the Indiana Fever.

Speaking to the media back in May, the American-born Nigerian-British player, who is back in the WNBA this season after four years, shared her thoughts on the arrival of Clark to the team and how she has been a heady facilitator.

Fagbenle said:

"She's a great passer, and she's always going to pass it when I'm open. It's really amazing, because we haven't had many practices together ... I've only had a few of those kind of point guards, who just know, sees the play before it's happened."

Check out what she had to say below:

Temi Fagbenle and Clark have only shared the court this season 16 times because the veteran forward has been hounded by various injuries.

Clark, for her part, has been solid in her rookie season, averaging 18.7 points, 8.4 assists (league-high), 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in helping the Fever generate a lot of noise towards a playoff appearance after eight years.