Caitlin Clark shakes off ankle injury as Fever fall short of 1st win

INDIANAPOLIS — As if the massive expectations and brutal opening schedule weren’t significant enough challenges for Caitlin Clark to confront at the start of her WNBA career, she faced another culprit Monday night: her left ankle.

The Indiana Fever rookie and No. 1 draft pick, who has been the subject of unrelenting defensive focus while transitioning to the pro game, rolled her ankle in the second quarter of the Fever’s 88-84 loss to the Connecticut Sun, an injury that left Clark sprawled on the court and clutching her ankle in pain.

Clark was unable to get to her feet unassisted and limped to the locker room immediately after being helped up. A sellout home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse fell silent as Clark’s…