INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is out for the season with a right groin injury.
“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” the 6-foot guard said in a statement released Thursday night. “I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling. I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty.
“This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it’s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the playoffs.”
Clark was injured late in a game against the Connecticut Sun on July 15, and she later sustained a bone bruise. The former University of Iowa star averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 13 games in her second season in the WNBA after being the No. 1 overall pick of the draft in 2024 and becoming that season’s rookie of the year.
“Caitlin has worked so hard throughout this time, doing everything possible to recover and return to the court but, ultimately, time is not on our side,” Amber Cox, the chief operating officer and general manager of the Fever said in a release. “While we will continue working with Caitlin and provide her with every resource we have available, there is not enough time left in our season for her to safely return, and her long-term health and well-being remains our top priority. We are looking forward to having her back at full strength to start the 2026 season.”