Fever 'Hope' Caitlin Clark Returns from Groin Injury During Regular Season, HC Says

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been sidelined for more than a month because of a groin injury, but head coach Steph White said the team is hoping she can see some action before the end of the regular season.

According to White, Clark has not yet participated in practice with contact.

"That's the hope. She's working as hard as she can to make that she is coming back or that she's capable of coming back," White said. "I think that the long-term viewpoint of her health and wellness is the most important thing."

Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, has missed most of the 2025 campaign due to various injuries. She dealt with a groin injury in late June and returned briefly in early July, playing just four games before the Fever announced that she'd miss more time. She has not played since July 15 because of the right groin injury.

In total, the second-year guard out of Iowa has played just 13 games, putting up 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Joining WNBA legend Sue Bird on the Bird's Eye View last month, Clark expressed how frustrating her injuries throughout the season have been.

"There's just so much to manage. And then obviously I feel like that's been a huge part of this year," she said. "It's just been so challenging being active and playing four games, and then not, and not feeling the best and then frustrated of like how hard I've worked in the offseason, and then all I do is rehab and continue to do this process, and just trying to trust that the best I can.

"Obviously, there's really frustrating days and there's days where it's a little bit easier and you're very, very motivated and you're close to the finish line of getting back and being back. It's not like I have a training camp to build up to play in my first game again. It's like no, you're tossed into game 30 — like, 'Go try to play well.' Like it's hard, it really is."

Luckily for Clark, the Fever have managed to stay afloat, for the most part, in her absence. Indiana is currently sitting in seventh place in the WNBA standings at 21-19. If the Fever can pick up a few more wins over the next week, they'll be able to punch a ticket to the playoffs.

Having Clark back on the floor for the final stretch would be a significant boost, but ensuring her health for the postseason and beyond is more important at this point.