'It's difficult:' Caitlin Clark says injury-riddled season has taken mental toll
Entering the 2025 WNBA season, Clark had never missed a collegiate or professional game. She appeared in every game for the Hawkeyes during her four years in black and gold and played in all 40 games for the Fever in her rookie year, in which she won Rookie of the Year. But Clark has dealt with the injury bug and missed 10 of the Fever's first 20 games of the season, marking her longest stretch of missed games in her career.
"It's obviously hard sitting out and watching for a few weeks, so I'm excited to get out there," Clark told reporters on Tuesday. "It's been so challenging because I've never been through this before."
2025 WNBA ALL-STAR DRAFT RESULTS: Caitlin Clark selects Fever teammates
Clark suffered a quad injury during the Fever's 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on May 24 and subsequently missed five games. Clark returned to the Fever's lineup on June 14 in the Fever's 102-88 win over the Liberty and dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. Clark then suffered a left groin injury four games later in the Fever's 94-86 win over the Seattle Storm on June 24, which resulted in Clark missing the team's next five games, including the Fever's 2025 Commissioner's Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx on July 1. The Fever went 5-5 without Clark in the lineup.
She returned for the Fever's 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, July 9 and recorded 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in the losing effort.
"It felt good to be out there. It's going to take me a second to get my wind back," Clark said following the loss. "There's not anything that can replicate a true game... I was trying to play shorter stints, but sometimes it's almost harder to sit on the bench and come in the game. It's kind of finding a balance of that. Just trying to get my legs under me."
Clark's injuries and sporadic availability has contributed to a shooting slump. In the past four games, Clark has shot 17-for-59 from the field and 3-for-28 from 3. Clark said battling the injury bug has been "challenging mentally," despite doing everything "to put myself in a position to be available the rest of the year."
"It's honestly been hard, I'm not gonna lie to you. It's difficult going to prepare for games, but knowing you're not going to be playing in them," Clark said on Wednesday. "It's challenged me mentally. It's really hard to stop and go, stop and go, stop and go, especially when you're not feeling your best. Just trying to get my body as healthy as I can be and remain confident in myself."
Fever head coach Stephanie White concurred, adding: "Being injured is just hard because you're injured, it's hard mentally. You want to be out there. Super competitive and want to help your team. Frustrated with the rehab process. Frustrated with all of those things, especially when it's your first. For (Caitlin Clark), this is the first time she's had to go through this. So everything from rehab and treatment and strength training to return to play is all new for her."
Despite missing significant time this season, Clark is still averaging 17.4 points, 8.6 assists (second-best in the league) and 5.0 rebounds through 10 games. She was voted an WNBA All-Star captain (via fan votes) and is currently third in WNBA MVP odds, behind the Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier (-500) and Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas (+1000). The Fever find themselves in great position to make a run for the team's second consecutive playoff berth as the All-Star break quickly approaches. (The Fever went 9-5 last season after the 2024 All-Star and Olympic break to secure the team's first postseason appearance since 2016.)
"When we get to the end of the year and playoffs, I think this is going to be a moment I can look back on be really proud of myself for everything I went through and how I've dealt with it," Clark said on Tuesday.
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is set for July 19 in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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(Photo of Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogumike: Soobum Im / Getty Images)
