The WNBA season may be long over, but Caitlin Clark is still very much in the spotlight. Just a few weeks ago, the Indiana Fever star made headlines for joining USA Basketball, which signaled another big step in her growing career.
Now, Clark is once again making news. This time it’s not for her play on the court, but it is for a personal revelation about what she learned during one of the toughest stretches of her career.
Caitlin Clark Reflects on Her Time Away From the Court
While speaking in a recent interview on Day 1 of USA Basketball Camp at Duke, posted by Scott Agness on YouTube, Clark opened up about her time away from the floor due to injury. In her own words, she explained that being injured can be an extremely lonely experience. Clark shared that this period forced her to grow in different ways, especially as a leader.
“I think more than anything, it teaches you how to really be a great teammate and a good leader, and understand what teammates go through. Like obviously I had teammates that have been through injuries and are continuing to go through injuries…”
“So I’ll always be there for them… If I have a teammate hurt going forward, I’m always gonna be the one that texts them and checks on them. Just pouring into your teammates, you can do that whether you play or you don’t play. It’s kind of my main focus,” said Clark during the interview.
Clark’s injury during the 2025 season was a difficult moment for both her and the Fever, and it happened late in the fourth quarter of Indiana’s win over the Connecticut Sun on July 15. After setting up teammate Kelsey Mitchell with a pass, Clark jogged up the court before abruptly reaching for the side of her right leg.
Aliyah Boston quickly came over to check on her, but Clark, who was clearly upset, turned away. She briefly slammed her head against the basket support before heading to the bench. During the timeout, she sat with a towel over her head, visibly emotional as she tried to hold back tears.
Clark wasn’t the only Fever player hit hard by injuries that season. Her teammate Sophie Cunningham also suffered a devastating setback.
On August 17, in a game against the Connecticut Sun, Cunningham went down with a season-ending knee injury. While defending a drive in the second quarter, she collided awkwardly with Bria Hartley, and if we see the contact, it twisted her right leg in an unnatural way, and it was immediately clear that something was wrong.
If we consider the 2025 campaign, it pushed Clark to her limits. She missed 31 games due to leg, quad, and groin injuries, yet still managed to put up impressive numbers when healthy, averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and five rebounds per game.
With Clark absent from the squad, the Fever finished with a 24–20 record, made it to the playoffs, and even knocked out the Atlanta Dream before they lost a heartbreaking Game 5 in the semifinals against the Aces.
With Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston ejected late, Indiana’s magical run came to an end. Many fans believe that a fully healthy Clark could have carried the Fever all the way to the Finals. Now, Clark’s focus has shifted to Team USA and what lies ahead.
