Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has already missed 25 games of the 2025 WNBA season, and there is still no clarity regarding when she might return to the court. With the league’s most high-profile player sidelined, a wave of opinions has emerged from analysts, coaches, and former stars about her uncertain future this year.
Maybe this season is just done for her (Caitlin Clark). Maybe it doesn’t make sense for her to come back into the mix if the Fever aren’t contenders. Are the Fever contenders at this point? I’m just not so sure. Do you risk another injury that can again compound and compound and turn into something else down the line?
Those words, spoken weeks ago by Rachel DeMita, cast a shadow of concern over the league, fans, the team, and the Fever’s coaching staff.
Stephanie White still hopes to see her star soon
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White remains optimistic that her franchise player can return before the season ends. After 16 consecutive absences, White has stressed that Clark’s progression must be gradual, with multiple practice sessions needed before any in-game action.
I want to see her in practice, live in practice. Want to see her continue to work to not just build endurance, but to be able to handle contact 94 feet as it’s going to be in-game, and to be able to do that and sustain it from an endurance standpoint, and that’s going to take multiple practices to make sure that there’s no regression.
No one knows her timeline
The reality is that nobody can say with certainty when Clark will return. She has now missed 25 games due to three separate injuries, leaving questions about whether she might be rushed back and put at greater risk. The danger of aggravating her health remains high if she is forced into action prematurely.
Lisa Leslie, a WNBA legend, entered the debate by urging the Fever to shut her down for the rest of the year.
I would not put Caitlin Clark back on the floor this season.
Her stance underscores the dangers of rushing rehabilitation, as even a minor setback could have serious long-term consequences.
Terrika Foster-Brasby raises doubts
For Fever insider and WNBA analyst Terrika Foster-Brasby, the situation is more complicated, particularly regarding the reports about Clark’s health.
In Case You Missed It: So, the Fever to me are the team that is the most vulnerable… she’s not only still nursing that groin injury, but was recently reported as having a mild bone bruise. I’ve had a bone bruise before … it took a while to heal. They say it won’t affect her timeline-but who knows?
She later reiterated:
So, the Fever to me are the team that is the most vulnerable. They still don’t have Caitlin Clark. Unfortunately, she’s not only still nursing that groin injury, but was recently reported as having a mild bone bruise. I’ve had a bone bruise before and it wasn’t mild, it took a while to heal. So, they’re saying that it won’t necessarily affect her timeline, but who knows?
The road ahead for Indiana
As Lisa Leslie emphasized once again:
She could provide an amazing boost, but again, I’m just gonna put my coach’s hat on, my GM hat on. You want to see Caitlin Clark for the longevity of her career. I’m just thinking, me personally, I would not put Caitlin Clark back on the floor this season.
The Fever remain in the postseason picture, but the franchise now faces a crucial decision: safeguard Clark for the future, or take the risk of bringing her back in hopes of making an immediate impact.
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