Caitlin Clark‘s season has come to an early close. The Indiana Fever guard announced Thursday that she will not return this year as she continues to recover from a right groin injury suffered in mid-July.
Clark admitted the extended rehab has tested her patience, but she credited fans for providing perspective during a challenging stretch.
“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” Clark said in a statement. “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.”
Setback after promising sophomore campaign
Clark sustained the injury late in a July 15 matchup against the Connecticut Sun, later developing a bone bruise that complicated her recovery. While she was able to take part in some non-contact drills earlier this week, she never advanced to full-speed work.
Amber Cox, the Fever‘s chief operating officer and general manager, said there simply wasn’t enough time for Clark to safely rejoin the lineup.
“Caitlin has worked so hard throughout this time, doing everything possible to recover and return to the court but, ultimately, time is not on our side,” Cox said. “While we will continue working with Caitlin and provide her with every resource we have available, there is not enough time left in our season for her to safely return, and her long-term health and well-being remains our top priority. We are looking forward to having her back at full strength to start the 2026 season.”
Before going down, Clark was averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5 rebounds through 13 games, building on her Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024.
Clark’s absence marks the first time in her career that injuries have forced her off the floor. She played every game during her record-setting tenure at Iowa and never missed a contest in her rookie WNBA season.
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