Caitlin Clark injury scare ends in 'sigh of relief' for Fever

It was the worst three seconds of Indiana's preseason. Caitlin Clark rose for a 3-pointer, Alanna Smith closed out into her landing space, Clark came down on Smith's foot, and the whole gym held its breath. She hobbled off, the call went to review, and the foul got upgraded to a Flagrant 1 — reckless closeout, exactly the type of contact the league has been trying to legislate out for two years.

Coach Stephanie White went out of her way after the game to say it: pulling Clark was 'extra precaution.' Not an injury. Clark herself told reporters she feels 'good' and didn't seem rattled. Dallas won 95-80 anyway — Bueckers torched Indiana for 20 points in the first half before sitting on the bench in the second.

The Fever opened their preseason against the team most likely to be their biggest rival for the next decade and walked out without their franchise player on the floor. They'll be fine. Indiana's regular-season opener is Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd. Clark will play. The scare is the story — the league spent half a season last year holding its breath every time Clark hit the floor, and Tuesday was a reminder that nothing's actually changed.