Why Caitlyn Clark should rest
Caitlin Clark’s season status sparks controversy as USAT’s Meghan Hall explains to Sam Cardona-Norberg.
Seriously sports
Indiana Feverguard’s Kate Linklark has made it official and she will not return to the court this season, the star announced on social media.
Clark, who has been sidelined with a right gro caliber injury since July 15th, had previously participated in a contactless 5-0 training using fever’s backup during a team shootaround in Phoenix on Tuesday morning. However, it has been revealed that the returns this season were not included on the card.
“We wanted to share a better update, but we’re not going to return to play this season,” Clark said in an X post on Thursday.
In a statement, Clark admitted that the news is “incredibly frustrating,” but thanked fans for their support in recent months while she was injured.
“I am extremely proud that this team has become stronger through adversity this year,” Clark said in a statement. “Now is the time to close the season and claim our spot in the playoffs.”
Fever head coach Stephanie White previously said Clark must take part in full contact practices at multiple live shows before it is cleared to return to court.
White said Tuesday that Clark “is filming and most of the things are individual.”
Clark’s absence in Friday’s game against Chicago Sky missed her 20th straight game. Clark missed 28 of Fever’s 41 games this season. In addition to this, Fever’s Commissioner Cup victory over the Minnesota Links on July 1, the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and 3-point contest.
2025 WNBA Playoffs Photos: Who closed the postseason berth? Who’s in and who’s out?
As of September 4th, the fever was 8-5, with Clark in court and 13-15 13-15 without her.
Will Kate Linklark play for the rest of the season?
Clark has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to the correct gro caliber. The star player announced the news of her official X account on Thursday.
Kate Linklark’s injury timeline
- May 24th: Clark suffered a left quad injury in a 90-88 loss of fever to New York Liberty, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Clark was unable to identify the specific play that caused her injuries, but noted that it happened early in the contest. Clark said, “Adrenaline covers a lot of things when you’re in the heat of fighting. After the game, I felt some pain and then we got an MRI. She missed the next five games of Fever.
- June 14th: Clark returned to the Indiana lineup in Fever’s 102-88 victory over Liberty, dropping 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the first game.
- June 24th: Clark suffered a left gro caliber injury in Fever’s 94-86 victory over Seattle Storm. As a result, Clark missed the team’s next four games. Fever coach Stephanie White said he learned about Clark’s gro caliber injury after Clark warned his team trainer of discomfort.
- July 1st: Clark has been ruled out from Fever’s Cup victory in the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup against Minnesota Links in Minneapolis. That didn’t stop Clark from justly celebrating the team’s hardware.
- July 9th: Clark returned to the heat lineup with a fever 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Clark was limited to 10 points, shooting four of the 12 from the field and two of five from the 3-point line, earning six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers. Following the blown loss, Clark said, “It’ll take a little time to get the wind back… I’m just trying to put my feet under me.”
- July 15th: Clark suffered a right gro caliber injury in the final minute of an 85-77 victory over the Sun at Boston’s TD Garden. White later confirmed that Clark “feels something a little in her gro diameter.” This marked the final game that Clark was suitable for.
- July 18th: Clark announced he would be participating in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where he was named team captain. Clark was also scheduled to take part in the 3-point contest. She said, “I’m incredibly sad and disappointed that I can’t take part… I have to rest my body.”
- July 24th: Fever said Clark’s medical evaluation confirmed “no additional injuries or damage,” but said the team will be cautious about rehabilitation and recovery.
- August 7th: Clark reportedly suffered mild bone bruising in his left ankle during a separate training session in Phoenix, according to the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA Today Network.
- August 8: When appearing on Sue Bird’s podcast, Bird I View, Clark spoke about his complaints about the injury season. “I don’t have training camp to play again in the first game. No, you get thrown into game 30. That’s difficult, that’s really true.”
- August 10th: Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark has recovered and started running in full court again, but Clark hasn’t returned to practice yet. “She was able to run on all courts with her weight…she could do a little more in court in terms of how she moves, but she hasn’t put it into practice yet,” White said.
- August 20th: White confirmed that Clark hadn’t returned to practice yet.
- August 24th: Clark took part in the team’s shootaround and experienced several non-contact drills on the second team, marking the first time he’d practiced with the team since suffering a correct gro caliber injury on July 15th.
- September 4th: Clark shared the post on the official X account and said he missed the rest of the regular season and potential postseason action.
Kate Linklark Statistics
Clark has averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and a career-high 8.8 assists in 13 games this season. Her assist average is the second highest in the league, behind Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (9.2).
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