Caitlin Clark to miss remainder of WNBA season: ‘Disappointed isn’t a big enough word’

Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark. (IBJ photo/Mickey Shuey)

Caitlin Clark will miss the remainder of the WNBA season, the Indiana Fever announced Thursday night.

“Caitlin has worked so hard throughout this time, doing everything possible to recover and return to the court but, ultimately, time is not on our side,” Indiana Fever COO Amber Cox said in a written statement. “While we will continue working with Caitlin and provide her with every resource we have available, there is not enough time left in our season for her to safely return, and her long-term health and well-being remains our top priority. We are looking forward to having her back at full strength to start the 2026 season.” 

Clark has been sidelined since July 15, when she suffered a right groin injury in a matchup against the Connecticut Sun. At some point during her recovery, the two-time All-Star also suffered a bone bruise, according to the team. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year appeared in 13 games this season, averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.

In social media posts Thursday, Clark said “disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling.”

“I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty,” she wrote. “This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year.”

There are three games left in the regular season as the Fever vie for a spot in the playoffs. Indiana is currently in eighth place in the standings, 1-1/2 games in front of Los Angeles.

Clark had been durable throughout college and her first season in the WNBA, never missing a game, but has suffered a cluster of muscle injuries—including to her left quad, left groin and right groin—in her second pro season. The star guard has missed more than two dozen games this year with muscle injuries.

She missed the Fever’s preseason opener with tightness in her quad but played the next day in an exhibition game at her alma mater, the University of Iowa. She suffered a quad strain against New York on May 24 that kept her out for five games. Clark returned June 14 and played in five games before suffering another injury to her left groin that kept her out for multiple contests, including the Commissioner’s Cup final, which saw the Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx.

On July 15, she sustained a right groin injury during the final minute of the Fever’s 87-77 win over the Sun. On July 17, just hours before the WNBA All-Star Weekend was set to tip-off in Indianapolis, the team announced Clark—who received a record number of fan votes to be named a team captain—wouldn’t play in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game.

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In recent weeks, coach Stephanie White said Clark had been slowly ramping up her activity with the hope of returning before the end of the regular season. However, White noted, Clark would be required to participate in several practices before she would be able to return.

Clark participated in full-court drills without defense during a shootaround before the Fever faced the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night. At that time, White told reporters: “the long-term viewpoint of her health and wellness is the most important thing.”

Just hours before Thursday’s season-ending announcement, the team said Clark would sit out for its Sept. 5 appearance against the Chicago Sky—as would Chloe Bibby (left knee), Syndey Colson (left knee), Sophie Cunningham (right knee) and Aari McDonald (right foot).

Clark, whose popularity has led to record attendance and higher television ratings for the league, recently became a Nike signature athlete. Her first signature shoe and apparel collection will debut next year. Her logo collection will launch on Oct. 1, with a T-shirt in the Fever’s colors—yellow and navy blue—released earlier this week. Also this week, she launched a collaboration with Stanley, maker of the popular reusable water bottles and tumblers.