Caitlin Clark Out: Season Over and Future in the WNBA

Caitlin Clark Out of the 2025 WNBA Season

The Indiana Fever announced that Caitlin Clark will not play the rest of the 2025 WNBA season. The news means she will miss the last three regular season games and any possible participation in the playoffs. This decision ends weeks of speculation about Clark’s return, who has not played since July 15 due to a right groin injury. Clark’s absence is a blow to her and the Fever, who currently hold the eighth spot for the WNBA playoffs. Clark, who won the Rookie of the Year award and led the league in assists and three-pointers in her debut season, has struggled with injuries in 2025. She has only participated in 13 of Indiana’s 41 games so far. Injuries forced her to miss several important events, including the Commissioner’s Cup final, the All-Star Game, and the last seven weeks of the season.

Caitlin Clark finishes the 2025 season averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 13 games.

Impact on the Fever and Playoff Prospects

Despite injuries and roster changes, the Fever have shown resilience. Four players have participated in all 41 games: Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Aliyah Boston, and Natasha Howard. Mitchell and Boston are averaging career highs in points, while Hull is also having his best averages in points, rebounds, and assists. Howard, for her part, is a three-time WNBA champion. In August, after injuries to Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson, the Fever added Odyssey Sims and Aerial Powers. Sims and Powers have playoff experience, with Powers even winning a WNBA title. The absence of Clark is a setback, but the Fever have played more games without her than with her this season. Mitchell has taken on a key role, averaging 21.2 points and 3.9 assists in 28 games without Clark. Recent injuries have tested Indiana’s depth. Although the team had a five-game winning streak, the losses of McDonald, Colson, and Cunningham have affected their performance. According to advanced WNBA statistics, the team has a better net rating than Los Angeles, but their net rating is the lowest among the eight playoff-bound teams, which could be a factor in the first round.

The Moment of Decision

The Fever’s management probably wanted to give Clark every opportunity to return, but with the end of the regular season, time ran out. There was no reason to maintain hope or for Clark to force an impossible return.

Clark’s Immediate Future

Clark closes his second season with averages of 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 13 games. Despite his absence on the court, he has maintained an active presence on the bench. Now, without the pressure of playing, he can focus on recovering, establishing training routines, and supporting the team. His absence will be felt in the playoffs, but Indiana could still host its first playoff game since 2016.

Expectations for the 2026 Season

The 2025 season is expected to be a memory. Clark will have enough time to fully recover from his groin injury. The case of Michael Jordan in his second season with the Chicago Bulls serves as a reference, as Jordan also missed a considerable amount of games due to a fracture. In the following season, Jordan averaged 37.1 points per game. A’ja Wilson, who won the Most Valuable Player award three times, is another example, as her numbers were reduced by an injury in her second year. The following year, she won her first MVP award. Clark’s potential shouldn’t be limited by what happened this year. An interesting question is whether this season will alter his offseason plans. He might consider participating in competitions like 3-on-3 or playing abroad.