Caitlin Clark will miss the rest of the 2025 WNBA season, she announced on social media Thursday.
Clark has been sidelined with an injury and hasn’t played since July 15 in the Indiana Fever’s win over the Connecticut Sun, in which Clark tallied 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. 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,” she wrote.
Clark then expressed gratitude for the support she’s received this season.
“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,” she said.
Time was not on the Fever or Clark’s side, Indiana Fever COO and GM Amber Cox said in a team statement.
“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,” Cox said.
The Indiana Fever have three games left in the regular season and currently hold the final playoff spot despite losing five players — Clark, Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, Sophie Cunningham and Chloe Bibby — to season-ending injuries.
“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,” Clark said.
What happened to Caitlin Clark?
Clark was plagued with injuries this season and only played in 13 of the Fever’s 41 regular-season games and Commissioner’s Cup game.
The reigning 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year struggled with injuries before the season even started.
She missed the Fever’s first preseason game after experiencing tightness in her left leg, she told reporters ahead of the May 3 game before she was ruled out.
The next day she was ready to go in the Fever’s game against the Brazilian national team held at Clark’s alma mater, the University of Iowa. In 19 minutes, she recorded 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Clark was able to play in the Fever’s third and final preseason game as well as the team’s first four games of the season.
Then injuries struck again.
Clark sustained a left quad injury early in the Fever’s game against the New York Liberty on May 24.
She wouldn’t return until the Commissioner’s Cup on June 14 when she put together her best performance of the season, scoring 32 points, including back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers, and recording nine assists and eight rebounds
The next game on June 17, Clark took a beating after a physical game against the Connecticut Sun.
Clark was poked in the eye by Jacy Sheldon while Sheldon defended her, which led to Clark pushing Sheldon away from her. Sheldon’s teammate Marina Mabrey then bumped Clark to the ground as a scuffle broke out.
Clark didn’t speak on the incident after the game, telling reporters, “You guys came for basketball; let’s talk about basketball,” according to ESPN.
On June 24, ten days after Clark’s return, she would suffer another injury — this time a groin injury.
Clark would miss the next five games, including the Commissioner’s Cup final, and return for four more before her season ended.
Injuries and missed games were unusual for Clark prior to this season.
Before her quad injury in May, the last time Clark missed a regular or postseason game she was a sophomore at Dowling Catholic High School in November 2017, as the Deseret News previously reported.
How Caitlin Clark played in 2025
This season also saw a drop in Clark’s production when she was healthy enough to be on the court.
In 2024, Clark averaged:
- 19.2 points
- 5.7 rebounds
- 8.4 assists
In 2025, Clark averaged:
- 16.5 points
- 5 rebounds
- 8.8 assists
Clark only had four games this season in which she scored at least 20 points. Last season, she had 20 in 40 games, including in one playoff game.
This season also saw Clark’s 140-day streak of hitting a 3-pointer, which dated back 1,225 days to her sophomore season at Iowa, according to ESPN.
Clark will have to wait to build on the magic of her rookie season until next year unless she chooses to join the 3x3 league Unrivaled in its second season next January.
Until then, Clark will have to watch from the sideline as the Fever try to earn a trip back to the playoffs.