Caitlin Clark hasn't stopped working toward coming back from two injuries — a right groin injury that was complicated by a secondary injury to her right ankle — during the postseason, Fever coach Stephanie White revealed during an interview on the new Fever Insider podcast. While Clark hasn't yet begun playing 5x5 basketball in any capacity, White also noted, she is playing 2x2 and 3x3 basketball — and she's making great strides.
The postseason gives Clark the "ability to take it on a week-by-week basis" that will eventually allow her to build to full court 5x5 basketball.
Clark only played 13 games this season and suffered a series of injuries that began with tightness in her left quad and transitioned to a full-blown left groin injury. She averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, an 5.0 rebounds, a sign that 2025 could have been a strong year.
Instead, Fever fans will have to wait until next year to see Clark back on the court. Despite rumors to the contrary, she's given no indication that she intends to play in the second season of Unrivaled or in the sixth season of AU Pro Basketball in Nashville.
Caitlin Clark fought to come back to the court for months
Clark spent several weeks attempting to make a comeback to the floor, but her final game of the season for the Fever ended up being played on July 15. Her ankle injury suffered on August 7 ultimately stopped her from being able to test out her groin, and as a result, she continued to fulfill her role as a bench coach for the team for the rest of the season.
Clark has made it clear that she hopes to play on the USA Basketball Women’s National Team in the World Cup qualifiers in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March of next year. That's a long time away for fans hungry to see her on the floor, but still a tiny bit sooner than the beginning of the 2026 season next May.
Training camp for the qualifiers will likely be held in early March 2026. The United States previously qualified as one of the top 6 teams in the Americup tournament, but could still play in the qualifiers. The FIBA World Cup will take place in Berlin, Germany, from September 4-13, 2026.
Clark was previously not a member of the national team that traveled to Paris, France, for the 2024 Olympic Games.