"Tongue is out we are so back": Fever fans explode as injured Caitlin Clark practices without leg sleeve ahead of anticipated return 

Caitlin Clark's anticipated return received a huge boost as she practiced on Thursday without a leg sleeve. Clark has been out since May 23 with a quad strain. She was initially ruled out for two weeks but has been out for a longer stretch.

Nevertheless, her return seems imminent as she's getting on-court work done. Videos from the latest practice went viral, showing Clark practicing her jump shots. She also didn't have a leg sleeve on, which is ideally protective gear to avoid aggravating a strain.

In one of the videos, Clark seemed to be in great spirits as she celebrated making a shot with the buzzer sounding off by sticking her tongue out. After Fever fans spotted this, their belief that Clark was close to making her comeback was amplified. Here are some reactions:

Darth Lord B2

@darth_b2

LINK

And no leg sleeve 👍

Tyram

@TyramSRK

LINK

LFG!!!!!!

CC Report

@cc22report

LINK

Tongue is out

I don't even need to see another medical report

The Indiana Fever take on the undefeated New York Liberty on Saturday at home in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup. The Fever are 4-5 entering the matchup, while the Liberty boasts a 9-0 record. Clark's potential return couldn't have come at a better time for Indiana, as the Fever can bounce back with a massive win over the defending champs and find a rhythm.

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Fever coach Stephanie White on Caitlin Clark's injury recovery

The Indiana Fever are doing their best they can to help Caitlin Clark recover fully amid the noise so that she could return as soon as Saturday. After Thursday's practice, Fever coach Stephanie White shared updates on Clark and another key injured player, Sophie Cunningham, saying:

"I mean, we limited their reps but really tried to get them up and down the floor a little bit, start to try to get into game rhythm, game speed, game pace," White said via Chloe Peterson on X.

"Timing [is] a little bit off, rhythm a little bit off. But continuing to try to work them in as much as we could."

White's comments suggest that the Fever are pushing for the duo's return against the Liberty. So far, there haven't been any setbacks, and that's a good sign. Indiana's offense is reeling without Caitlin Clark as the Fever lack playmakers on the team.

In her absence, Indiana has a 99.5 offensive rating, eighth in the league.