The Fever were forced to get used to life without Caitlin Clark when the second-year star missed three weeks with a quad injury earlier in the season, and they find themselves back in the same scenario as the end of June nears.
Clark missed Indiana's June 26 game against the Sparks due to a groin injury and sat out the following night's showdown with Paige Bueckers and the Wings, delaying one of the most anticipated head-to-head matchups of the season between the last two No. 1 overall picks.
Before sitting out, Clark was struggling mightily. She returned from her quad injury with an explosive 32-point game, but efficiency troubles leading up to her absence with a groin injury cost the Fever.
Here's what you need to know about Clark's injury and when she might return.
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How long is Caitlin Clark out?
On Sunday, June 29, Clark went through a full practice and gave an update on her status, saying, "I'm going to be day-to-day from here on out," adding that "I'm doing everything that I can to put myself in a position to play the next game."
Clark hasn't been ruled out for any extended period as she deals with a groin injury. The injury, which is believed to be separate from the quad injury that cost her three weeks of action, has kept her off the court for more than a week.
While Clark was described as day-to-day by coach Stephanie White in late June, she missed the first three games of July with the injury and was ruled out an entire day before Indiana's July 5 matchup with the Sparks.
Saturday's game marked Clark's fifth consecutive game missed due to her groin injury.
However, on Tuesday, White said that barring any regression for Clark, she'll return for Wednesday's matchup against the Valkyries.
"I hope to play a decent amount, maybe upper-20s (in minutes), I guess it just depends how I feel and how the game goes," Clark said. "I feel pretty good."
Caitlin Clark plans to return tomorrow vs Golden State pic.twitter.com/UqMsldMgCJ
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 8, 2025
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What is Caitlin Clark's injury?
Clark has missed Indiana's past five games with a groin injury, including Saturday's contest against the Sparks. The extent of the injury is unknown.
When Clark was ruled out on June 26, there was some hope the Fever were just giving her an extra day to rest during a span of three games in four days. The decision to sit Clark the following night raised more concern about the injury. Now, after missing the Commissioner's Cup Championship and Thursday's game vs. Las Vegas, it's anyone's guess as to when Clark will return.
The Fever won the Commissioner's Cup over the Lynx without Clark and earned a convincing win over the Aces two days later. Clark averaged only 12 points per game over her last three contests before the injury, shooting 27.7 percent from the field and a dismal 1-of-23 from 3-point range. Whether the injury was affecting her is unclear, but the Fever are playing it safe with their star at the very least with so much of the season still ahead.
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Indiana Fever schedule
Here is Indiana's schedule before the All-Star break in July:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| July 5 | vs. Sparks | 7 p.m. |
| July 9 | vs. Valkyries | 12 p.m. |
| July 11 | vs. Dream | 7:30 p.m. |
| July 13 | vs. Wings | 1 p.m. |
| July 15 | at Sun | 8 p.m. |
| July 16 | vs. Liberty | 7:30 p.m. |