Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark will be sidelined for at least two weeks due to a left quadriceps strain sustained during a recent game against the New York Liberty. The team announced the injury on May 26, 2025, marking the first major injury in Clark’s professional or collegiate basketball career .
Clark’s injury comes as a significant setback for the Fever, who are currently 2-2 in the early stages of the WNBA season. Before the injury, Clark was leading the team in scoring and assists, averaging 19 points and a league-high 9.3 assists per game . Her dynamic performance has been essential to the Fever and the WNBA, making her injury a significant loss for the league .
The exact timing of the injury remains unclear, as Clark appeared unaffected in her last game against the Liberty. However, she had been limited in the preseason with what she described as tightness in her left quad, though the team did not explicitly say in the announcement whether this injury was an aggravation of that previous issue .
Clark’s absence poses a significant challenge for the Fever, whose roster was strategically built around her, especially after an offseason aimed at transitioning from a playoff team to a championship contender. The team will now rely heavily on their depth, with backup guard Sydney Colson expected to see increased minutes and Kelsey Mitchell likely taking over primary ball-handling duties. Forward Sophie Cunningham may also contribute more on offense. Star center Aliyah Boston, already averaging strong numbers, will be expected to play a more central offensive role .
The Fever’s current two-week timeline rules Clark out of four games, minimum: at the Washington Mystics, at home against the Connecticut Sun and Mystics, and on the road at the Chicago Sky. Clark’s reexamination date is set for June 9 — but that’s when she’ll be examined again, not necessarily when she’ll be able to return. Recovery from a quad strain could range from a few weeks to several months, so at this point, the extent of Clark’s absence is hard to tell .
Fans expressed disappointment and concern on social media, with many wishing Clark a swift recovery. Her dynamic performance has been essential to the Fever and the WNBA, making her injury a significant loss for the league .
The Fever plan to monitor her condition and provide updates post re-evaluation. In the meantime, the team must adopt a committee approach to fill Clark’s void and prove the strength of their revamped roster early in the season .