Caitlin Clark's durability has been tested in a major way during her sophomore season of professional ball.
The Fever phenom's health was a point of pride as a rookie, as she played in every game for Indiana in 2024, finding success even when matched up against bigger and stronger players. This season figured to be a banner year for the Iowa product, who was widely considered an MVP candidate.
That hasn't quite gone to plan so far. Clark has dealt with a wide variety of injury issues, three of which have kept her on the sideline at different points.
Clark's latest ailment appears the most serious. She has missed more than a dozen consecutive games after falling victim to a right groin injury vs. the Sun on July 15.
Clark's injuries have put a real damper on Indiana's success, and it has some wondering whether Clark could miss out on more of the regular season — or perhaps the whole year entirely.
With that, here's what you need to know about Clark's status for the rest of the 2025 campaign.
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Is Caitlin Clark returning this season?
Clark will not return to the floor during the 2025 season, she announced Thursday.
"I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. 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," Clark wrote on social media. "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."
I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. 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… pic.twitter.com/paD5sEYG1q
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) September 5, 2025
For the past few months, it's been unclear whether Clark would return to the floor in 2025. She's been felled by a handful of injuries throughout the campaign, most of which have affected her upper legs.
Clark was first felled by injury on May 26. The Fever announced that Clark would miss two weeks with a quadriceps ailment. She returned to the floor on June 14 vs. the Liberty.
Ten days later, Clark again returned to the sidelines, this time cut down by a left groin issue in an Indiana win over the Storm. She missed five regular-season games and the Commissioner's Cup championship as a result of the ailment. On July 9, Clark returned to floor. She was placed on a gradual minutes restriction, with Indiana hoping to ramp up her activity ahead of the All-Star Break.
On July 15 — Clark's fourth game back from the injury — she went down again, taking herself out of the Fever's duel with the Sun after pulling up lame after delivering an assist to Kelsey Mitchell late in the fourth. Clark appeared in discomfort as she made her way to the sidelines. She wrapped a towel around her head while watching the remainder of the game, holding back tears during the matchup's final moments.
Head coach Stephanie White told reporters that Clark "felt a little something in her groin." The injury impacted her right groin, per Indiana's official injury report.
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Clark missed the three-point contest and All-Star Game as a result of her malady. She hadn't taken the floor since that fateful midsummer day, with the Fever appearing to employ a lengthier recovery plan to ensure Clark wouldn't add to her injury record this year.
Now, Clark is officially done for the 2025 campaign after her weeks of being sidelined.
Indiana has been a team in free-fall, struck down by more injuries than most in recent weeks. Since Clark went down, Sydney Colson (torn ACL), Aari McDonald (broken foot), and Sophie Cunningham (torn MCL) were ruled out for the season. The Fever have remained competitive in Clark's absence, but no lock for the playoffs.
MORE: Sophie Cunningham ruled out for season due to torn MCL
White was open about her desire to give Clark the time she needed to fully recover from her latest malady. The Fever's medical staff appears to have taken that message to heart, with precious few updates offered regarding the Iowa product's status — save for one revealing she suffered a minor bone bruise on her left ankle on Aug. 7.
As of Sunday, Aug. 24, Clark had been participating in "low-maintenance, five-on-0, low-intensity" team activities as her return-to-play protocol.
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However, fans will have to wait until 2026 to see Clark in action again after her second season was defined by injuries.
Caitlin Clark groin recovery timeline
June 24: Clark injures left groin
Clark's groin trouble began on June 24 when she suffered a left groin injury against Seattle. She missed five games while recovering, returning to the floor on July 9 — with a gradual minutes restriction.
July 9: Clark returns to court vs. Valkyries
Clark was muted in her return to action. She tallied 10 points, five rebounds and six assists in Indiana's 80-61 loss to Golden State, missing eight of her 12 shot attempts. She played 25 minutes in the affair, a reflection of both a potential minutes restriction and the scoreboard's crooked nature.
Caitlin Clark fires from deep and connects on her 2nd triple of the contest 🎯
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 9, 2025
GSV-IND | League Pass pic.twitter.com/5ssT3MnHEL
July 15: Clark exits game with right groin issue
On July 15, Clark went down once more, sustaining another groin injury — this one to her right groin. She exited the floor vs. Connecticut in tears.
Caitlin Clark appeared to be in pain after this play late in the fourth quarter.
— espnW (@espnW) July 16, 2025
Clark returned to play last week after missing 5 games with a groin injury. pic.twitter.com/y78M3mDeCf
She hasn't taken part in a sanctioned WNBA contest since, missing out on the three-point contest and All-Star Game as well as 14 regular season matches.
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Fever schedule
The Fever have three games left in their regular season slate. They are as follows:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | Channel |
| 9/5 | vs. Sky | 7:30 p.m. | ION |
| 9/7 | at Mystics | 3 p.m. | NBA TV |
| 9/9 | vs. Lynx | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
The WNBA's postseason begins on Sept. 14.
Is Caitlin Clark leaving WNBA?
There's no reason to believe Clark is leaving the WNBA any time soon. She's fielded big money offers from Big 3 — the Ice Cube-ran 3v3 tournament that has attracted a host of former NBA old-timers — and Unrivaled. However, Clark remains tied to the W for the time being.
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