Fever's Caitlin Clark reveals how long she has been battling back injury

Caitlin Clark has missed one of the Indiana Fever's six games this season -- but that one absence remains a topic of debate among WNBA fans.

Clark did not appear on the Fever's injury report before Indiana hastily ruled her out of last Wednesday's 90-73 home win over the Portland Fire. However, Clark -- who had been dealing with back stiffness -- played 32 minutes and scored 22 points in the Fever's 90-82 win over the Golden State Valkyries on Friday.

MORE: Fever's Caitlin Clark reveals how her mom factored into back injury decision

For the time being, that has put any concerns about Clark's status to rest. But in speaking to the media on Tuesday, the two-time All-Star guard revealed that she couldn't pinpoint when she first started feeling a certain stiffness in her back.

“I don’t think it necessarily started at a certain point. I think it’s just been over the course of the last year when I’ve kind of been understanding my body more," Clark said from Fever practice on Tuesday. "Before that, it was always 'I'm fine, go play.'"

Clark said she needed to find a "balance" between being too aware of her body versus just going out and playing. And she is not overly concerned that the back issue will inhibit her too much going forward.

For Clark, her injury odyssey over the past year has forced her to change certain habits and listen more to what her body tells her. The Fever hope that keen awareness presages years of success ahead for both of them.

More WNBA news:

• Sophie Cunningham pinpoints what’s holding Indiana Fever back
• Breanna Stewart admits Liberty’s ugly start has become unexpected problem
• Quiet Aliyah Boston happy to stack up numbers for Fever as Caitlin Clark gets headline
• It's time for Wings' Azzi Fudd to get her chance as a starter