The Indiana Fever are coming off one of the most improbable runs to the Semi-Finals in recent memory. With their superstar, Caitlin Clark, out for the season with a groin injury, the team was able to rally and put together a gritty run that pushed the Las Vegas Aces to the limit.
However, a revamped roster for the 2026 WNBA season should give the fan base some renewed hope. Unsurprisingly, given their immense popularity, the team is kicking off the action in the preseason, going against the New York Liberty. But will they have their best player back on the court?
Could Caitlin Clark Return to Action?
The first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark immediately took the league by storm, making it the latest beneficiary of “The Caitlin Clark Effect.” Earning Rookie of the Year honors, she led the Fever to a playoff berth while averaging 19.2 points and 8.4 assists per game.
In her second year, though, injuries derailed her throughout the season. Finishing with just 13 games under her belt, she could not contribute in a truly meaningful way for Indiana. A strained left quadriceps injury early in the season was a true canary in the coal mine.
Subsequently, injuries to her left groin and right groin kept her out of action sporadically before recommendations from specialists cut her season short. Returning for the 2026 season, the tale is already looking better for the third-year player.
READ MORE: Fever Star Caitlin Clark Reveals 1 Major Lesson That She Learned After Long Injury Absence
Last year, she missed a preseason game with a lower left leg injury. But this year, the early signs are optimistic, as the Fever get set to take on New York. Beat writer Chloe Peterson broke down the game plan that the team is keeping with their star player and her minutes.
“Caitlin Clark says she’ll play 20-25 minutes today — not a minutes restriction, but just how they’re strategizing the game. Says they’ll treat the first half like a regular game, then use the second to let younger players get some run.”
There has been a ton of roster movement that Indiana has to make do with this season. After losing Chloe Bibby and Kristy Wallace to the expansion draft, they also lost Natasha Howard in free agency.
However, they also re-upped the roster in other areas, bringing in Monique Billings and Tyasha Harris, while drafting Raven Johnson and Justine Pissott in the first and second rounds, respectively.
The new-look roster, even with a ton of the common centerpieces, should theoretically help the Fever get over the hump, with a healthier season from Clark, the ultimate addition they can make to last year’s playoff success.
