On Thursday, Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark announced on social media that she would miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season due to groin injury.
Clark appeared in 13 regular season games, averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. She hasn’t played a game for Indiana since injuring her right groin during a game against the Connecticut Sun on July 15.
Additionally, Clark suffered a bone bruise on her left ankle during a workout back in August.
The Indiana Fever announced Caitlin Clark will miss the remainder of the season. pic.twitter.com/JTp4NtN7q7
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) September 5, 2025
“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” Clark said on her social post. “I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling.
“I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty. This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it’s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the Playoffs.”
Fever head coach Stephanie White told reporters after a shoot around on Thursday that Indiana used the West Coast trip, in which the team went 1-2, to evaluate Clark’s status.
Steph White said they used the West Coast trip to evaluate Caitlin Clark, and they’re having a meeting after practice today to talk about her availability for the rest of the season.
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) September 4, 2025
She hasn’t been able to do contact drills, only 5-on-0. pic.twitter.com/KtDzMbX5xd
“She hasn’t been able to do a whole lot of contact,” White said. “She’s been able to get up-and-down 5-on-0, been able to do shooting, but hasn’t been able to get a whole lot of contact.”
As a result of Clark’s and Indiana’s announcement, the Fever now have four players on hardship contracts and five players with season-ending injuries: Chloe Bibby (knee), Sophie Cunningham (torn MCL), Sydney Colson (Torn ACL), and Aari McDonald (right foot fracture).
Additionally, Indiana is one of four teams vying for a playoff spot, currently sitting eighth in the standings with a 21-20 record.
After Clark joined the Fever as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, last season she helped Indiana clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2016, the season when franchise icon Tamika Catchings retired.
Also, she helped attract new fans to the WNBA, known as the “Caitlin Clark effect” and won the Rookie of the Year award after breaking various records and making All-WNBA first team in her first season in the league.
Obviously, this is not how the former Iowa standout and Indiana Fever fans envisioned the 2025 playing out, but ultimately the team did what is best for its franchise player, long-term.
The Indiana Fever will face the Chicago Sky, who will be without Angel Reese due to suspension, at home on Friday, September 5.
