Caitlin Clark has missed more games in 2025 than she did during her entire rookie campaign. Now, with another groin injury sidelining her for Tuesday’s matchup against the New York Liberty, the Indiana Fever must figure out how to keep their playoff hopes alive without their superstar.
How Will the Indiana Fever Handle Another Extended Clark Absence?
According to IndyStar’s Chloe Peterson, Fever head coach Stephanie White revealed that Clark would be meeting with doctors on Monday and Tuesday for more opinions on her groin issue. The report added that she was cleared to travel with the team to Brooklyn, but her availability remained in doubt.
However, that question was answered quickly. Per Underdog WNBA, Clark has been ruled out for Tuesday’s game. “Caitlin Clark (groin) ruled out for Tuesday,” their tweet read.
I swear Caitlin Clark is CURSED in the last moments of games. Appears she reaggravated her groin injury on this play. pic.twitter.com/kzBaJ8TDvO
— Cro (@The_Cro_Show) July 16, 2025
White also shed more light on the injury situation. “These soft tissue injuries sometimes nag until you can actually have time to really allow them to heal in the offseason,” she said on Sunday. “So we’ll just take it one day at a time and as they come, and this group will continue to progress together.”
What Makes This Season So Different for Clark?
It has been a rough 2025 campaign for the former Iowa Hawkeyes star, who has missed 10 of the team’s 23 games this season (11 of 24, including the Commissioner’s Cup). The first absence came from a left quad strain at the start of the season, which cost her five games. She then suffered a left groin injury that cost her five more games.
MORE: When Will Caitlin Clark Be a Free Agent?
This pattern stands in sharp contrast to Clark’s previous consistency. She didn’t miss a single game during her collegiate career and her rookie season in 2024. Her recent stretch highlights how unusual this injury-plagued season has been for the young guard.
Despite the setbacks, Clark has remained optimistic about the situation. “Just like trying to look at it in the most positive manner that I can…,” she said. “I think it all comes back to having a good perspective on everything.”
Meanwhile, the Fever are 4-6 without Clark so far this season. At the time of writing, the Clark-less Fever are still in the mix for a postseason berth. They sit at 12-11 and sixth in the standings.
While they are coming off a loss, the team can be confident because they have stayed afloat without their best player. Next, they’ll prepare to take on the Liberty before returning home against the Las Vegas Aces.
