Caitlin Clark Says 2025 Injury Gave Her ‘Renewed Perspective'
After a record-shattering rookie campaign in 2024, expectations for Caitlin Clark's second season could not have been higher. Fans envisioned a natural evolution: a sharper Clark, a more cohesive Fever, and a genuine title run. Instead, Year Two became a story of painful resilience.
Clark never missed a game during four years at Iowa or during her rookie season, but three separate injuries sidelined her for 28 of 41 regular-season games in 2025, leaving her to watch helplessly as her teammates battled through the season and into the playoffs without her.
Now, Clark is back and ready to remind the rest of the WNBA why she's regarded as one of the league's best players.
Speaking to Athlon Sports' Kyle Wood in a Q&A ahead of her return, the 24-year-old opened up about what sitting on the sidelines taught her.
"I feel really good going into this year. Had three preseason games and then getting ready for tip-off this Saturday," Clark said. "I think kind of just having a renewed perspective on the game. When you watch from the sidelines, it isn't always the most fun, but you learn a lot about yourself, you learn a lot about being a good leader, being a good teammate. But obviously more than anything, I'm just super excited to put the jersey back on and be able to run around out there and play with my teammates and expect the crowds this weekend to be really good and throughout the year, as well."
The full weight of those words becomes clearer when you consider what she endured. A right groin strain in July ended her season, preceded by a left groin sprain, two quad strains and an ankle bone bruise.
The Fever, without arguably their best player and other key pieces like Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald, pushed into the playoffs shorthanded. Despite these absences, Indiana gave the Las Vegas Aces everything they could handle in the semifinals. Their remarkable run came to an end in Game 5, falling 107-98 in overtime to the eventual champions.
Clark's importance to Indiana, and to the WNBA itself, can barely be overstated. She was involved in 21 of the 30 WNBA regular season and playoff games that drew more than 1 million viewers in 2024, and national TV viewership dropped 55% during a two-week stretch when she was sidelined in 2025.
Caitlin Clark, No. 22 pic.twitter.com/NRTiiPLj5P
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 6, 2026
She spent the offseason recovering from her injuries, and returned to lead Team USA to a 5-0 sweep in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament, earning MVP honors. With Clark now fully fit and a Fever roster hungry after last season's heartbreak, the optimism in Indianapolis is palpable.
The first chance to see it on the court arrives Saturday, when Indiana hosts the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 1 p.m. ET on ABC. 
Related: Why Caitlin Clark Is Psyched for Fever's Season Opener vs. Wings
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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 7:18 AM.