The silence in Gainbridge Fieldhouse told the whole story. Caitlin Clark, the rookie sensation who had never missed a game in her career, watched from the sideline as her Indiana Fever teammates fought to keep their playoff dreams alive. An injury-prone sophomore season had derailed everything, and now the question wasn’t whether they could win a championship, but whether they could survive without their star.
How Will Caitlin Clark’s Season-Ending Injury Impact the Fever’s Future?
Clark had never missed a game before in her career and had an injury-prone sophomore season in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever star’s absence threw the whole team off its axis, scrambling to make the 2025 playoffs.
While they have kept their 2025 campaign alive, there’s little chance of the team winning without Clark on the floor. The 23-year-old is out for the season with a groin injury, crushing fans’ hopes to see her play live before the 2026 season.
What Advice Did WNBA Legend Candace Parker Give About Clark’s Return?
WNBA legend Candace Parker has kept herself heavily involved even after retirement in 2024. In a recent episode of her podcast “Post Moves” with Aliyah Boston, Parker spoke about Clark, diving deep into how her injuries have shaped her season and the Fever’s performance.
he three-time WNBA champion pointed out that the team was 8-5 with Clark but 16-15 without her. However, the critical thing to focus on was Clark’s persistent injuries. Parker spoke from experience, trying to break down how injuries affect one’s game and career.
“Big picture from the outside looking in…I have been a player that has had a number of injuries. And I think, later in my career especially, some of those injuries would have been less or preventable had I listened to my body earlier,” Parker said.
She drew differences between being a role player coming in to play a specific role and returning from an injury. According to the retired Los Angeles Sparks star, the game has a rhythm to it that players must understand.
“But when you’re Caitlin Clark and you have the ball in your hands, and you’re on the other team’s scouting report…to come in half and not being able to be in that amount of…I would say shape, rhythm of the game…’cause the rhythm of the game changes towards the end of the year. And so when it started getting close to the end of the regular season, I was like, it’s dangerous to come back during playoff basketball,” Parker added.
She explained that the whole flow and physicality are different in the end, and one needs to “take time and understand the big picture” even though it’s tricky.
“Especially when you’re living with tunnel vision and you work so hard to get where you are at, but it’s the smart thing. And I’m proud of this generation for taking the time they need looking at the bigger picture and making sure that they get healthy.”
The way one returns from injury can majorly affect one’s career. Hasty decisions may lead to recurring injuries and incomplete recoveries. Though Clark has taken time off, the Fever star must stay focused and work on her health.
How Did Parker Previously Describe Clark’s Potential Return?
In an interview last month, Parker spoke about Clark and her eventual reunion with Kelsey Mitchell on the court.
“I’m telling you, when Caitlin gets back…it’s gonna be scary from a backcourt standpoint because the two of them with the ball in their hands…without the ball…and as a post player, your eyes have to light up,” Parker explained.
Sadly, Fever fans and Clark will have to wait at least a year before seeing the two on court together again. Following the Fever’s 83-72 win against the Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA has yet to release the complete playoff schedule.