Caitlin Clark’s second WNBA season was supposed to be a showcase of her growth and the Indiana Fever’s rise. Instead, it became a year of frustration, with injuries limiting her to just 13 games and forcing her to watch as her teammates pushed to the brink of the Finals without her.
Clark, who averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.8 assists when healthy, opened up during her exit interview about the grind of her rehab and the perspective she gained.
“People don’t always realize how many people that are in the basketball world, or other sports too, when you’re injured, it’s honestly more work than when you’re playing,” Clark said. “So I’ve spent so much time this season just trying to get healthy… The work doesn’t stop and I think I’ve had really good perspective on it all, and that’s probably what I’m most proud of too.”
A Season Derailed By Injuries
Clark’s troubles began before opening night, when she sat out parts of preseason with lower leg tightness and a minor quad strain. On May 24, just four games into the season, she strained her left quad against the New York Liberty and missed three weeks.
She returned in June but played only five games before suffering another groin injury. That setback forced her to miss the Commissioner’s Cup final on July 1.
Two weeks later, she sustained a right groin injury late in a game against the Connecticut Sun. It was her last appearance of the season. Clark later withdrew from All-Star Weekend, and suffered another blow with a bone bruise in her left ankle during rehab.
By Sept. 4, she officially announced she was done for the year.
“Disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling,” Clark wrote on social media. “I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty… Now, it’s time to finish the season strongly and secure our playoff position.”
Fever Fight On Without Caitlin Clark
Without Clark, the Fever showed remarkable resolve. They finished 24-20, good for third in the Eastern Conference, and secured their second consecutive playoff appearance.
Indiana leaned on a “we over me” mindset, setting a franchise record by using 18 different players throughout the season. Despite losing multiple starters — including Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Aari McDonald — the Fever advanced past the Atlanta Dream for their first playoff series win in a decade.
The run ended in heartbreaking fashion. Facing the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, Indiana forced a winner-take-all Game 5. In a back-and-forth battle, they pushed the Aces to overtime before falling 107-98.
Kelsey Mitchell scored until severe cramps forced her out late, and Aliyah Boston fouled out in regulation. Still, multiple Fever players reached double figures and won praise for their tenacity.
Despite the circumstances, the organization believes the effort symbolized a turning point for the franchise.
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Caitlin Clark’s Perspective On Recovery
Clark, sidelined throughout the playoff run, said she tried to remain engaged with teammates and lead in new ways. She often sat in on film sessions, stayed vocal in huddles, and looked for opportunities to support teammates through the grind of the postseason.
“It’s not what I envisioned, but I’ve talked with a few people about this,” she said. “I think a few years down my career, this will be a season I look back on as why I am who I am. It was hard, certainly, but I learned how to be a good leader and a good teammate, to empathize with teammates. On the sidelines, not wearing a jersey, you can watch and really learn about people, not just basketball.”
Her recovery now is focused on regaining confidence in her body and preparing to return to live action. Clark said the next step is testing herself in five-on-five, where the speed and contact of the game can’t be replicated in solo workouts.
“My goal is the end of October to be back out there and trying to get back to playing five-on-five,” Clark said. “I think that’s a very reasonable thing for me. I’ve been grinding as hard as I possibly can… It’s been a really good opportunity for me to learn a lot about myself and certain lessons that will be important throughout my career.”
The Fever have said Clark’s long-term health is the priority, with expectations that she will be ready for 2026. She was already spotted shooting at practices late in the season and taking part in individual workouts, a sign of progress in her rehab. Both Clark and the team have described her outlook as optimistic, with over eight months to prepare before next season begins.
Looking Toward 2026 and Team USA
Clark’s rehab schedule will line up with a busy international calendar. The United States has already secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA World Cup by winning the 2025 AmeriCup.
Still, Team USA will participate in a qualifying tournament in March, giving the senior national team a chance to reconvene for the first time since the 2024 Olympics.
For Clark, the tournament could be a natural step in her return to five-on-five competition. She mentioned USA Basketball as a priority during her exit interview.
“There’s some USA basketball stuff I need to get ready for—and I need to be able to find some runs and ways to play five-on-five just so I can get that feel back,” Clark said. “My main focus is really just getting my body healthy.”
Highlights from Caitlin Clark’s first interview since July 19 — on the bad ankle sprain, focus on getting her body healthy, then testing it in 5×5 — and why spot shooting is very different from game action pic.twitter.com/T7xfuRZs2v
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) October 2, 2025
A Season Of Lessons And Legacy
Even in just 13 games, Clark delivered highlight moments — a triple-double in the opener against Chicago with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists; a 32-point outburst against New York; and a 15-assist showing against Connecticut. She was named an All-Star captain, earned an ESPY nomination, and remained at the center of the league’s media spotlight.
Her teammates, particularly Boston, stood by her throughout the grind.
“Obviously AB’s tremendous,” Clark said. “We’ve always had a great relationship and that’s exactly what you need between your post and your point guard—she’s always been there to check in and pick me up.”
Though her season was cut short, Clark said it taught her how to show up in ways beyond scoring or assists.
“The biggest lesson I learned was how to show up every day for teammates—even when not playing,” she said. “So that if a teammate gets injured or faces a tough stretch, I’ll always show up and be there for them, because you don’t realize how isolating it is until you go through it.”
For Clark and the Fever, 2025 was both heartbreaking and affirming. Indiana proved it could contend even in adversity, and Clark proved her influence extends beyond the box score. Her eventual return in 2026 is one of the league’s most anticipated storylines.
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