The Indiana Fever are pushing toward the postseason, but they’re still missing one of their biggest stars. Head coach Stephanie White confirmed Monday that Caitlin Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, has yet to rejoin team practices as she continues to recover from a groin injury.
“No return to practice. She has been able to get a little bit more into her full-court running, with all of her body weight,” White told reporters.
“It’s really building up from doing minimal to then building some endurance to do longer periods of time. She has been able to do a little bit more on the court in terms of how she moves. But not into practice yet, no.”
Clark last appeared in a game on July 15 and has played in only 13 contests this season. Her sophomore campaign has been far from what fans and analysts expected, as injuries have limited her ability to find a consistent rhythm.
When healthy, Clark has averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 assists per game, though her shooting percentages, 36.7% from the field and 27.9% from three, show there’s still room for improvement.
Fever facing depth challenges ahead of playoffs
Despite Clark‘s absence, the Fever have managed to keep themselves in playoff contention, currently sitting at 18-14 on the year.
That record is a testament to the team’s resilience, but the injury bug has hit hard in recent weeks. Guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald were both ruled out for the season last week, further testing Indiana’s backcourt depth.
The loss of multiple key contributors has forced the Fever to lean more heavily on their remaining rotation players, placing added pressure on both the starters and bench.
Clark‘s eventual return could be a significant boost, not only in scoring but also in facilitating the offense and spacing the floor.
Her court vision and passing ability were major assets during her rookie season, and White’s comments suggest that the team is eager to get her back as soon as she’s physically ready.
However, the coaching staff appears determined to take a cautious approach. Rushing a groin injury recovery carries significant risk, and the Fever clearly want to ensure Clark is fully healthy before reintegrating her into full-contact drills or game action.
With the playoff race heating up and depth concerns growing, Indiana fans are hoping Clark‘s progression from light on-court movement to full practice won’t take much longer.
For now, though, the Fever will continue to navigate their postseason push without their young star, a challenge that will test their resilience heading into the most important stretch of the season.
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