Indianapolis, IN (Aug. 20, 2025) – For the first time in her playing career, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is learning what it means to fight through extended time on the sidelines. A source confirmed Wednesday that Clark sustained a mild bone bruise in her left ankle during a workout on Aug. 7, adding a new layer to an already difficult rehabilitation stretch.

The setback, while not considered severe, has compounded an ongoing recovery from a right groin injury that has kept Clark out for more than a month. According to the source, the latest injury has not significantly altered her timeline, but it underscores the physical toll that has marked a season unlike any she has ever experienced.

Uncharted Territory for the Star Guard

Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and an All-WNBA First Team selection in her rookie year, had never missed a game in her high school, collegiate, or professional career prior to this season. That durability has been tested repeatedly in 2025. Earlier this summer, Clark was forced to sit out with a left quad injury, followed by a left groin issue. The most recent groin injury sidelined her after her last appearance on July 15.

Now, the mild ankle bruise represents her third different injury since the start of the season. Though the Fever and Clark’s representatives have stressed that the new setback is not long-term, it has limited her to just rehab and individual drills.

“She’s doing what she can right now,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said earlier this week. “There’s progress, but until she’s practicing with the team, the situation remains status quo.”

Limited Availability in a Critical Season

Through 13 games played this season, Clark has averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds, reaffirming her reputation as one of the league’s most dynamic guards when healthy. However, the interruptions have disrupted both her rhythm and Indiana’s continuity.

The Fever (19-16) are in the midst of a tight playoff push, aiming to secure back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time in more than a decade. Clark’s absence has been felt, particularly as the team’s guard depth has been stretched thin. In the past two weeks alone, Indiana has lost Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, and Sophie Cunningham to season-ending injuries. That has left the roster shorthanded, increasing the burden on veterans Kelsey Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith to carry the offensive load.

A Playoff Race Without Its Star?

The Fever have nine games left on the regular-season schedule. White and her staff remain hopeful that Clark could return before the season concludes, but with her still restricted to conditioning and non-contact work, there is no clear timetable.

“The hope is that she’ll be back, but we can’t put pressure on her or the situation,” White said. “Health has to come first. If she gets back, it’s a bonus.”

The Fever have not announced whether they would consider holding Clark out for the rest of the year if her progress stalls. With the playoffs looming, the decision could become a delicate balance between long-term health and short-term competitive opportunity.

The Broader Picture

Clark’s season has been a reminder of the physical demands of the WNBA calendar and the difficulty of sustaining elite performance while adapting to the professional grind. After a rookie season that electrified the league and elevated television ratings, attendance, and sponsorship interest, her sophomore campaign has been defined instead by starts, stops, and setbacks.

Still, her impact is undeniable. Even in limited action, she remains among the league leaders in assists per game, her court vision and scoring range continuing to reshape how defenses prepare for Indiana.

The Fever, however, need her on the court, not just as a face of the franchise but as a stabilizing playmaker in a crowded postseason race. Whether Clark returns in time to impact that push remains the most pressing storyline in Indianapolis.

For now, the Fever and their fans wait – hopeful that their star can close a difficult season on the floor, not the sidelines.