The Indiana Fever’s 2025 WNBA campaign has been defined by resilience, grit, and a seemingly endless string of bad luck on the injury front. As the Fever prepared to face the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Friday night, the story wasn’t just about basketball—it was about who would actually be able to suit up. Star guard Caitlin Clark, the face of the franchise and a beacon of hope for Indiana fans, was ruled out for her 14th consecutive game, leaving a gaping hole in the Fever lineup and raising questions about when, or if, she’ll return this season.
Clark’s absence has become a gut-wrenching theme for Indiana. The 2025 season, which began with so much promise, has turned into a test of endurance for both the team and its supporters. On Friday, August 22, Clark missed her 14th straight regular season contest, sidelined by a nagging right groin injury that she initially suffered back on July 15 against Connecticut. But that’s not the whole story—Clark’s injury woes have been compounded by a bone bruise in her left ankle, sustained during an individual workout in Phoenix on August 7. According to Fever sources, the ankle injury didn’t impact her return timeline, but it certainly hasn’t helped matters.
“It’s been really frustrating. I mean, Caitlin wants to play, you know, she’s a competitor. She just wants to be on the floor. She just wants to play basketball,” Fever coach Stephanie White said on Thursday. “She’s in the mindset that she’s hungry, right, that she wants to be out there, and she wants to be with her team, and she’s working her butt off to get back in those situations. I think each time you have a tweak, or each time you have something else, it’s frustrating.”
Clark’s frustration is palpable, and it’s shared by the entire Fever organization. White described the sophomore guard’s string of injuries as “bad luck,” noting that this season is the first time in Clark’s career she’s faced such adversity. Before 2025, Clark had played every game of her college career—139 in total—and went injury-free during her rookie WNBA season, suiting up for all 42 contests including playoffs. Now, after five years of remarkable durability, Clark has missed 23 regular-season games and 24 total this year, including the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final and the All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.
It’s not just Clark who’s been bitten by the injury bug. The Fever’s backcourt has been decimated, with guards Sophie Cunningham (knee), Aari McDonald (foot), and Sydney Colson (knee) all sidelined for the remainder of the season due to serious injuries. The situation grew even more dire just hours before tipoff against Minnesota, when forward Chloe Bibby was ruled out with a left knee injury, leaving Indiana with just nine available players. "Chloe Bibby was just ruled out for the game with a left knee injury," reported Indy Star’s Chloe Peterson on X. "Another blow for an already depleted Fever team."
To keep the roster afloat, Fever general manager Amber Cox has had to get creative. Indiana has cycled through hardship signings, adding fresh faces like Bibby, Odyssey Sims, and Shey Peddy. Even McDonald herself joined as a midseason acquisition before suffering her own season-ending setback. Bibby, who went undrafted out of Mississippi State and Maryland in 2022, began the season with the Golden State Valkyries before being waived and picked up by Indiana on July 25. She made an immediate impression, scoring 18 points with two rebounds in her first two games, which earned her a contract for the rest of the season. Through nine games with the Fever, Bibby averaged 3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.6 steals per game on 35.7% shooting.
With so many players out, the Fever have been forced to rely on a patchwork lineup, and the challenge of facing the WNBA’s best team with a skeleton crew is monumental. The Lynx, boasting a 28-7 record, have been the class of the league all season. For Indiana, fielding just nine active players against such a powerhouse is no small feat. The depleted guard rotation has left the Fever scrambling for answers, and the lack of depth has made it difficult for the team to find any rhythm or consistency.
Clark’s return remains shrouded in uncertainty. Despite her competitive fire and relentless work ethic, the Fever’s medical staff and coaching team have been adamant that she must return to practice and have a proper ramp-up period before rejoining game action. "Until she can get into practice and until you guys see her in practice, we’re really status quo. Same as we have been," White explained earlier in the week. The Fever are determined not to rush their star back, prioritizing her long-term health over any short-term gains.
WNBA analyst Ros Gold-Onwude, speaking on the ‘Good Follow’ show, suggested it might be time for Clark to shut down her season altogether. "It is very mysterious. Here’s what I do know... it might be time to shut this thing down. It might be time," Gold-Onwude said. "It’s like every time [Clark] tries to do more, there’s a new injury. You might be playing with fire. Already, the season-ending injuries have mounted... and it’s all injuries to the guards. Like, I don’t even think the Fever really have enough depth at the guard position to support a Caitlin Clark comeback. Like, do you have enough bodies to support that?"
That sentiment is echoed by many around the league, as the Fever’s lack of healthy guards makes it difficult to provide the support structure necessary for Clark’s return. Even if she were to come back, there’s precious little time left in the season for her to regain her rhythm and make a significant impact. For now, the Fever are focused on getting through each game with the players they have, while Clark continues her rehab and waits for the green light to resume basketball activities.
Despite the setbacks, Clark’s numbers in limited action this season have been impressive. In 13 games, she’s averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 36.7% from the field and 27.9% from beyond the arc. Her impact on the court is undeniable, and her absence has been felt in every facet of the Fever’s game.
As the Fever battle through the final stretch of the regular season, the hope remains that Clark will return when she’s fully healthy and ready to contribute. For now, Indiana’s focus is on weathering the storm, supporting their injured stars, and building for a brighter, healthier future. With nine games left in just three weeks, it’s a race against time—and the injury report—to see how the Fever will finish this grueling campaign.
