Caitlin Clark shows off new physique in Team USA practice and breaks silence on WNBA lockout

Caitlin Clark is back on a basketball court.

After an injury-ravaged 2025 WNBA season, which saw the Indiana Fever star play just 13 games, Clark linked up with the Team USA women’s national team training camp.

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Team USA are hosting their camp in Durham, North Carolina, ahead of the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament.

These games will take place in March and will likely be Clark’s first game since July 15, when she picked up her last injury.

There will be no shortage of stars in this camp as she will be joined by the likes of Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers.

“It’s great competing with them for a change instead of against them and I think we really bring out the best of each other,” Bueckers said.

“I think that’s what USA Basketball does. Just so many amazing athletes and women coming together for one common goal.

“I think that’s always brought out the best of each other. It’s really fun to be able to share the court and be on the same side for a change.”

Fans go wild over Caitlin Clark’s physique

Clark went viral after pictures of her in practice surfaced on social media.

But this time it was for the shape she is in, as a post on X compared her physique from earlier this year to how she appeared in practice on Friday.

The post claimed that Clark has become leaner and reverted to the shape she was in her record-breaking 2024 rookie campaign after she seemingly bulked up earlier in the year.

In the comments, fans shared their opinion on the apparent new look.

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“I noticed that too, she was a mean machine during her rookie yr. She did not need to ‘buff up’ Although she still looked & played great,” one fan wrote on X.

“I felt this was the case all along. Too much muscle leading to inflexibility,” another fan wrote.

“Clark looking much slimmer, can’t wait to see her back in game action,” a third posted.

Clark on WNBA-CBA negotiations

Aside from getting on the court, Clark had some time to talk to reporters.

Inevitably, the topic that was raised was the collective bargaining negotiations happening between the WNBA and its players.

Clark admitted that current talks are the biggest moment in WNBA history.

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Caitlin Clark injury timeline

It's been a long road to recovery for Clark

May 2025

• Clark sits out of the Fever’s first preseason game, a 79-74 victory over the Washington Mystics on May 3, with quad tightness.
• Then, at the end of May, with the WNBA season underway and the Fever 2-2, she suffers a left quad strain and misses five games

June 2025

• Returns on June 14 from the quad strain and plays in five consecutive games
• Gets injured again with a left groin sprain against the Los Angeles Sparks

July 2025

• Returns from the left groin injury on July 9 and tallies 10 points, five rebounds, six assists and four turnovers in an 80- 61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries
• A week later, she suffered another groin injury, which came in the last minute of the game against the Phoenix Suns on July 15th

August 2025

• During rehab for her groin injury, Clark suffers mild bone bruising

September 2025

• On September 4, the Indiana Fever shut down Clark’s season.
• The team explained that due to her persistent groin issue and the short time remaining in the season, she would miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season

“I think the most important thing for myself, thinking about these CBA negotiations,” Clark said after a Team USA training session.

“This is the biggest moment the WNBA has ever seen, and it’s not something that can be messed up.”

“It’s business, it’s a negotiation. There has to be compromise on both sides. It’s starting to get down to the wire a little bit. It’s become really important. Obviously I want to help in any way I can.

“But like I said, this is the biggest moment in the history of the WNBA, and I don’t want that to be forgotten. It’s important that we find a way to play this next season.

“And I think our fans and everybody that has played in this league that has come before us deserve that as well.”

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Clark’s arrival in the WNBA was a key contributor to the WNBA’s surge in viewership and attendance over the past two years.

The CBA will dictate many factors between the WNBA and its players, but the main point of contention is the proposed salary limits.

Currently, a minimum annual salary stands at $66,000, while the maximum is at $249,000.

Players are reportedly seeking a maximum annual compensation that is above the $1 million mark.

The league and the players’ union have agreed to extensions in CBA negotiations since the original agreement was set to expire on October 31.

The current expiration date is now January 9.

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