Caitlin Clark’s injury scare gets immediate Indiana Fever update as WNBA star continues return
Caitlin Clark is officially back and has had her first injury scare.
The Indiana Fever star followed up her 17 minute showing in the Fever’s 109-91 victory over the New York Liberty on Saturday with another sparkling showing against the Dallas Wings.
Thursday’s night’s high profile preseason game put the last three No 1 picks from the WNBA Draft all on the same court for the first time, with the Wings showcasing this year’s first overall pick Azzi Fudd alongside Paige Bueckers.
Fudd managed just four points, Bueckers totalled 20 in 20 minutes of action while Clark racked up 21 points, four assists and one steal in just 16 minutes of a 95-80 win for the Wings.
“I feel good, just landed on my kneecap really hard,” she said, per the Indianapolis Star.
Fever head coach Stephanie White played down any concerns that Clark’s withdrawal from the game just after the incident as attention immediate turns to the start of the season.
“We had planned for her to come out around that time anyway.
“It was just extra precaution, I think, getting her out in that moment, but the plan was for her to start the third quarter then get her out quickly.”
Ironically it will be the Wings that provide the opposition when the regular season starts for both teams in May 9 – Fever have one preseason game left, against Nigeria on Saturday.
33 minutes of preseason action is great for Clark – seeing her back on the court for meaningful basketball is Fever’s ultimate target.
Saturday’s win over the New York Liberty was Clark’s first on-court action since July 15 after an injury-laden season limited her to just 13 regular season games in the 2025 campaign.
Due to injury, she was also unable to take part in the All-Star game and the weekend’s three-point contest at her home arena Gainbridge Fieldhouse, while she also had to watch the Fever win the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup from the sideline.
The 24-year-old did, however, make her return to competitive action in March when she was named on the 12-player roster for the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers back in March, handed the iconic No. 12 jersey vacated by all-time great Diana Taurasi.
For Clark in Year 3, it’s all about finding ways to position herself to be in the healthiest place possible, and stay on the floor.
“My first two years of my career is like, everything feels like it’s really, really good or it’s really, really bad,” Clark said when reflecting on her WNBA career so far and looking ahead to Year 3.
“That’s just kind of how pro basketball works, whether it’s on the men’s side, whether it’s on the woman’s side. You’ve kind of just got to stay right in the middle. I think that’s going to be important for our team. It’s a long season.”
Over the offseason, she has been working closely with Fever athletic trainer Maria Witte to develop a program specifically tailored to mitigate the risk of serious injury.
Now, it’s all about implementation.
“I thought she was good,” Fever coach Stephanie White said of Clark’s return against Liberty.
“We play differently when she’s on the floor. And so [we are] learning how to play with her in the action.
Cunningham could be crucial to Fever in 2026
Fortunately, Clark has a plethora of talent and character surrounding her on the floor.
Following the Players’ Union’s agreement over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Fever were able to bring back veteran Kelsey Mitchell, and re-signed former No. 1 overall pick Aaliyah Boston to a four-year, $6.3 million extension, the richest deal annually in WNBA history.
But Indiana also reunited Clark with her ‘Tres Leches’ crew by re-signing both Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham.
Outspoken star Cunningham has also made her return to action and as is just as crucial as Clark in the protection she afford the 2024 Rookie of the Year.
A black belt in Taekwondo, 29-year-old Cunningham is always the first to step in and protect her teammates, no matter the opponent.
With Clark having often been on the end of some tough – sometimes overly zealous – physical play during her WNBA career so far, Cunningham earned the reputation of being her teammate’s ‘enforcer’.
It is support that the Fever superstar very much appreciates.
“I think the thing I appreciate about Sophie more than anything is she’s never intimidated by the moment,” Clark said. “She rises to the occasion every single time. She’s going to have her teammates’ backs.
“She loves when our backs are against the wall, she’s one of the loudest voices out there, fighting and scrapping. No matter the situation — whether we’re down 20 or up 20 — it’s the same Sophie.
“Every team in this league would probably kill to have a player like that. Really fortunate she’s on our side… she’s a good soul, but when she steps on the floor she’s fierce, she’s fiery, and she’s going to do anything to help our team win.”
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