Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever have had little time to dwell on their recent losses, with the team facing another demanding stretch of games as the WNBA regular season winds down.
The Fever’s schedule has tested their health and endurance, but Clark isn’t interested in using fatigue as an excuse with the MVP race and playoff seeding both heating up.
Caitlin Clark Refuses to Blame Fever’s Schedule
Indiana is coming off consecutive losses to the Dallas Wings and New York Liberty, with the most recent on Saturday night, a 109-102 defeat.
The Fever now face the Chicago Sky on Sunday, giving them another game on the second night of a back-to-back and the final stop of a five-game road trip.
Clark acknowledged the challenge of Indiana’s schedule but made it clear that she doesn’t see it as something the Fever can control.
“There are no excuses… yeah our schedule is tough, and I think we played more back to back than just about anybody in the league, but it is what it is,” Clark said.
The Fever superstar also emphasized that Indiana focus on what it can control and play out the remainder of the season.
“[Chicago] is playing really good basketball. I think for us, you have to look at it positively like, we’re coming off a loss, and it’s a great opportunity for us to go and finish this road trip on a win,” she continued.
Caitlin on the mental battle of the schedule at this point in the season:
“There are no excuses… We play more games in a row than pretty much any other team in the league, but it is what it is. Everyone’s tired and pretty sore, who cares? figure out a way to make yourself feel… pic.twitter.com/ybaPRmqpU5
— m!ch | luv u cc (@clarkmode_) August 23, 2026
Clark’s comments came with Indiana preparing to play for the third time in four days. The Fever faced Dallas on Thursday before traveling to New York for Saturday’s game, then had to turn around for Sunday’s matchup in Chicago.
The schedule has also featured a significant amount of travel. Indiana’s five-game road trip included stops in Atlanta, Toronto, Dallas, New York, and will end in Chicago.
The timing of the demanding schedule is particularly significant for the three-time All-Star because her individual play has thrust her into the WNBA MVP conversation.
She has been one of the league’s most productive offensive players during Indiana’s strong second half of the season. Over her last 10 games for the Fever, Clark has averaged 22.3 points, 9.1 assists, and 3.9 rebounds.
Those numbers have helped elevate Clark’s MVP candidacy despite reigning MVP A’ja Wilson remaining the favorite for the award.
Clark’s recent surge has also coincided with strong team results. Indiana currently has a 24-14 record, good for 5th in the entire league.
That makes the final stretch especially important for Clark and Indiana, as they are not only trying to secure favorable playoff positioning but also attempting to maintain the momentum that helped Clark enter the MVP discussion in the first place.
Rather than focusing on the physical toll of the schedule, Clark said players across the league are dealing with similar circumstances.
“Everybody’s tired, everybody’s sore — who cares,” Clark said. “Figure out a way to make yourself feel better and suit up and go play.”
That mentality could be particularly important for Indiana with the regular season nearing its final stages.
The MVP race remains difficult to predict, with Wilson holding the strongest overall case and other contenders such as Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles also making significant pushes.
Still, Clark’s production has made her a legitimate part of the conversation, particularly if the Fever can maintain their position near the top of the league standings.
Whether the demanding schedule ultimately affects Indiana’s postseason positioning and her MVP case remains to be seen. For now, the three-time All-Star’s message is straightforward: fatigue is part of the WNBA season, but she and the Fever have to find a way to compete through it.
With the playoffs approaching and Clark’s MVP candidacy gaining momentum, Indiana’s ability to finish the regular season strong could have major implications for both the team and its superstar.
