Caitlin Clark Talks Injury Return in WNBA Season Opener, Getting over 'Mental Hurdle'

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark discussed the mental aspect of returning from injuries following the team's season-opening loss to the Dallas Wings on Saturday.

"You just become hyper cautious to certain things… when my back tightened up I think I almost got confidence from that, because I came back in and I played eight more minutes so, and I felt great the last eight minutes … But it's going to take me a little bit to, like, really get over this mental hurdle of, like, trusting my body," Clark told reporters Wednesday, via ESPN's Kendra Andrews.

"So it's a lot of stress on somebody's body and just the pace and the physicality of it too…. But I feel really good," she added.

After starting 40 games and earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, Clark was limited to just 13 appearances last season while dealing with groin and quadriceps injuries.

She played 31 minutes against Dallas in her 2026 debut, but left Indiana's bench twice to work with the team's medical staff on her back.

Clark still finished with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds. She shot 7-of-18 from the field and 2-of-9 from three-point territory.

The former Iowa standout had a busy offseason after her shortened 2025 campaign came to a close, suiting up for Team USA in the qualifying tournament for the FIBA Women's World Cup in March.

Now, Clark is looking to help Indiana improve to 1-1 in a matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night. Tip-off is at 10:30 p.m. ET.