Caitlin Clark‘s rookie campaign with the Indiana Fever was disrupted by injuries, and while she’s eager to return to the court, insiders believe her offseason plans will center on recovery rather than risk.
The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, appeared in just 13 games this season as she initially battled a left quad issue and later a left groin problem before a right groin injury ended her year entirely.
The Fever placed her on injured reserve, making it clear that the long-term health of their franchise cornerstone outweighed short-term gains, despite a deep run in the WNBA Playoffs.
Team officials expect the 23-year-old to be fully ready by the time the 2026 WNBA season tips off in May, and until then, she will train behind the scenes, carefully managing her workload.
That plan is why speculation about her joining offseason competitions such as Unrivaled has grown, but according to local reporting, fans shouldn’t anticipate seeing her participate.
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Chloe Peterson said to the Fever Insider LIVE podcast. “For sure, I don’t think she’ll do Unrivaled because 3-on-3 is a different type of game than 5-on-5, obviously.
“And I think some players just don’t want to play 3-on-3, which is completely fine.
“I think Caitlin Clark is one of those players because 3-on-3 is a lot faster. It’s obviously different in the sense of how many people you have on the court.”
Unrivaled, founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart, is a popular offseason option for players seeking competition outside the WNBA. Clark reportedly declined a $1 million offer to join the league last year, and Peterson indicated she has little reason to reconsider.
“I think if anything,” Peterson continued. “She doesn’t want to risk getting injured again.
“Especially with how quickly she came back, got injured, came back, got injured, type of thing.
“So I don’t think she’ll play in any kind of official league, but she’ll obviously be ramping back up and finding ways to play team basketball, I would think.”
The Fever‘s decision to shut Clark down demonstrates their protective approach. Indiana remains in playoff contention, but risking further injury to their young star would jeopardize the team’s long-term outlook.
Caitlin herself is known for her competitiveness, yet her track record shows she also makes thoughtful decisions, and despite her young age she understands that rushing back too soon could endanger her career trajectory.
When do the Indiana Fever play next?
The Indiana Fever will next take on the Las Vegas Aces in a do-or-die Game 4 meeting in the WNBA Playoffs semifinal match, hosted at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on September 28.
Sunday’s match can see A’ja Wilson and the Aces book their passage to the finals with a win, whilst Kelsey Mitchell looks to keep Indiana in the mix. The game tips off at 15:00 ET/12:00 PT and is live on ABC, with streaming available at Fubo.
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