Caitlin Clark's return to the Indiana Fever remains uncertain, and her chances of playing again in the WNBA regular season appear to be slipping away.
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Clark, who has been out since mid-July with a groin injury, is now also dealing with a separate setback. Indiana reporter Scott Agness noted that Clark injured her right ankle during a workout in Phoenix on Aug. 7. Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star added that the injury was diagnosed as a "very mild" bone bruise. While the ankle issue does not change Clark's timeline, it has not helped her case to return before the playoffs.
The 23-year-old has not suited up since July 15. Without her, the Fever have managed to stay afloat, posting a 7-4 record in her absence. At the same time, Indiana has been hit hard by other injuries. Guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald are both sidelined for the year, and Sophie Cunningham recently joined them with her own season-ending setback.
Head coach Christie Sides has tried to find positives in the adversity.
steph white on caitlin being out:
“i said it early when C was out the very first time. while we don’t like it, sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise, because everybody else finds themselves. no one is afraid to make the big play offensively and defensively.” pic.twitter.com/6fTdCFEGRM
— cc akgae (@clrkszn) August 3, 2025
"While we don't like it, sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise, because everybody else finds themselves, and no one is afraid to make the big play," Sides said earlier this summer.
Still, there is no question the Fever are better with Clark on the floor. The No. 1 overall pick has lived up to her billing in her first professional season, bringing national attention to the Fever while averaging double figures in scoring and providing the kind of floor vision few in the league can match.
For now, Clark continues to rehab while her teammates keep pushing. The Fever believe they can contend if they can get her back healthy. The mystery is when, or if, that moment will come this season.
