Caitlin Clark opens up on injury struggles at Indiana Fever: ‘I've never been through anything like this’

Caitlin Clark, last season's WNBA Rookie of the Year, is experiencing a frustrating second season with the Indiana Fever due to persistent injuries. She has played only 13 games this season and has been sidelined since July 15th.

A series of muscle injuries, most recently a groin problem, have caused her absence. Clark expressed significant frustration over these setbacks, particularly because she has no prior history of missing games throughout her basketball career.

Speaking on Sue Bird's podcast "Bird’s Eye View," Clark described the challenge: "It's just been so challenging... I've never been through anything like this." She admitted the unfamiliarity with injury made it harder, initially questioning if the pain was simply tightness or aging rather than recognizing it as an injury.

Clark emphasized the unprecedented nature of this situation, highlighting her perfect attendance record before this season: she played all 139 games during her college career at Iowa and was available for every Fever game last year.

She identified the "stop-and-go" nature of her recovery as the hardest part. Her injuries lack a clear timeline ("It's not like six weeks"), leading to uncertainty about how she will feel after playing or practicing. Clark stressed the need to "trust the process" and remain patient.

While the Fever hold a 18-14 record and third place in the Eastern Conference, Clark remains out. Having not yet returned to practice, she will miss her 11th consecutive game when the Fever play the Dallas Wings on Tuesday night.