An injury will keep Caitlin Clark sidelined for Saturday’s Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever game at the United Center — and the momentum behind ticket sales shifted accordingly.

WNBA season was set to build on last year’s momentum, with surging attendance, primetime TV slots, and a fresh crop of talent drawing new fans to the game. But just a few weeks into the season, Caitlin Clark’s quad injury has put the brakes on the Indiana Fever’s playoff hopes and offered a stark reminder of how fragile the league’s surge can be when its biggest star is sidelined.

Even while sidelined with injury, the Indiana Fever rookie showed her character during a lighthearted moment before Tuesday’s win.