Caitlin Clark is "in no position to play" basketball, Indiana Fever reporter Scott Agness said on Rachel DeMita's "Courtside Club" podcast Thursday, September 25. This update comes as some fans hoped footage of Clark at shootaround ahead of the Fever's third game against the Atlanta Dream last week could mean the team's star guard might be slated to make an appearance at the Semifinals this week.
"She's not returning. Listen: She is not returning, period," Agness added. He continued: "I thought I saw [in Atlanta], and then again in the video, she was still favoring that left ankle. She was not running completely smooth."
The Fever will host the Las Vegas Aces at home at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday, September 26, for Game 3 of up to 5. In addition to Clark, the team's injury report currently has Chloe Bibby, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, Damiris Dantas, and Aari McDonald listed as out. Lexie Hull, who suffered a back injury, is listed as probable.
Clark's potential return to the court was finally put to rest in early September when she announced she will not return this season — or so it seemed. Though Clark made it clear she has no plans to play for the Fever in 2025, fans have continued to hope she might show up on the floor anyway.
But Clark's August 7 ankle injury sealed the deal, as it put an end to her rehab for her groin and effectively made it next to impossible for her to progress to a healthy enough place to make it back. Clark ultimately played 13 games for the Indiana Fever this season.
The Fever have a steep hill to climb Friday
The Fever will head into Friday night's game tied 1-1 with the Aces, but toppling Las Vegas will be a massive challenge. The team will once again draw on the strength of Kelsey Mitchell, who enjoyed a playoff career high of 34 points when the two teams first met Sunday, September 21. While the 2025 MVP A'ja Wilson tallied up a double-double, she shot 6-for-22 from the floor and Las Vegas lost the match 89-73.
The Aces came roaring back for Game 2 on September 23, and deftly shut down the Fever's strongest efforts from the very beginning. The Fever were outscored in every period of the game and failed to match the Aces' physical dominance — not to mention the sheer power of Wilson, who ended Game 2 with 25 points, nine rebounds, and five steals on 10-for-18 shooting. The Aces dominated from start to finish and ran away with the game 90-68.