Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever's star guard, is set to miss at least two weeks of WNBA action due to a left quadriceps strain. The injury, sustained during the Fever's recent game against the New York Liberty on May 24, 2025, marks the first significant setback in what has otherwise been a remarkably durable career for the young phenom. The team officially announced the injury on May 26, leaving fans and analysts alike to assess the impact of her absence.
The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate for the Fever and their fans. Clark has been a central figure in the team's promising start to the 2025 season, averaging 19.0 points and a league-leading 9.3 assists through the first four games. Her dynamic playmaking and scoring ability have fueled excitement around the Fever, who entered the season with heightened expectations after a busy offseason focused on building a contender around the reigning Rookie of the Year.
According to the Indiana Fever, Clark will be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks, and further updates will be provided following a re-evaluation. This timeline means she will miss at least four games, including matchups against the Washington Mystics, Connecticut Sun, and a highly anticipated contest against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. The game against the Sky was moved to the United Center in Chicago in anticipation of high demand, but Clark's injury has dampened some of the excitement.
Prior to this recent setback, Clark has maintained a relatively clean injury record throughout her career. She sat out a preseason game against the Washington Mystics on May 3, 2025, due to left quad tightness. At the time, Clark attributed the issue to "probably just a little too much basketball" and emphasized the importance of finding a balance between training and recovery. However, the current quad strain is reportedly a different injury from the earlier tightness, according to Chloe Peterson of the Indy Star.
Looking back further, there are a few instances where Clark has dealt with minor injuries. In November 2022, while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, she injured her ankle with just seconds remaining in a game against Kansas State. Despite the injury, she returned to the court for Iowa's next game. In January 2024, Clark was involved in a collision with a fan who ran onto the court after Iowa's loss to Ohio State, but she did not sustain any lasting injury from the incident. Before joining the WNBA, Clark played in all 139 games during her four years at Iowa. The last time she sat out a game prior to her WNBA career was in 2017 during her sophomore year of high school due to a sprained ankle.
The Fever will undoubtedly be cautious with Clark's return, given the risk of aggravating muscle strains. A prolonged absence could impact the team's momentum and affect Clark's chances in the WNBA MVP race, where she was considered a favorite prior to the injury. The team's focus will be on ensuring her full recovery and preventing any lingering issues that could affect her long-term performance. In the meantime, the Fever will need to rely on their other talented players and improved depth to remain competitive during this challenging stretch.
