Caitlin Clark’s sophomore campaign has been an up-and-down season. The 2024 WNBA No. 1 pick has dealt with various injuries that have kept her on the sidelines for most of the season. And in a recent podcast, the Indiana Fever star opened up about the struggles of trying to stay on the court for a consistent period for her team.
Caitlin Clark Gets Emotional About Injuries This Season
On the Birds Eye View podcast with WNBA legend Sue Bird, the Fever star shared the toll this season has taken on her amid her first real injury scare in her basketball career.
“It’s just been so challenging like being active and playing four games and then not and not feeling the best and then frustrated of how hard I worked in the offseason and then like all I do is rehab and continue to do this process and just like trying to trust that the best I can”, Clark explained.
The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year got off to a great start this season, dropping a 20-point triple-double in the Fever’s season opener against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. Indiana went 2-2 in the first four games, and then Clark suffered her first injury against the New York Liberty on May 24, sustaining a left quad strain. She missed five games as a result.
Clark returned on June 14 against the Liberty and had her best game of the season. She flirted with a triple-double, posting 32 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.
But her injury woes continued. On June 24, she suffered a left groin strain, which caused her to miss five games. She would go down again on July 15 due to a right groin strain, causing her to miss the WNBA All-Star game, in which she was named an All-Star captain. She has yet to return from this setback.
The two-time All-Star described the mental and physical wear-and-tear from the constant injuries:
“Like I’ve never been through anything like this, and I think that’s probably why it’s been so hard, because I’ve never really dealt with injury. That’s probably been a challenge in itself because, like when I first was feeling pain, I didn’t understand it, like I didn’t know. I was like ‘Am I just tight?'”
Indiana Has Held Up The Ship Without Caitlin Clark
With no return date set, Fever fans must be getting antsy to see the second-year star, known for knocking down deep 3s and delivering flashy passes. Clark has only appeared in 13 games this season, and they may have to wait longer for her return.
Although Indiana has played most of its season without its best player, Aaliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell have upped their game in Clark’s absence as the Fever currently sit at the fifth overall seed in the league.
Clark said she doesn’t know how she’ll “feel” since this is all new to her. She is practicing giving herself grace and being the best teammate she can be until she returns to the hardwood.
