
Caitlin Clark has endured a mixed start to her WNBA career. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft immediately lived up to the hype, leading the Indiana Fever as a rookie with 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. She also topped the league in assists and earned WNBA Rookie of the Year honors while helping Indiana reach its first playoff berth since 2016.
However, her 2025 campaign was marred by recurring injuries, including a left quadriceps strain and a right groin injury. These setbacks limited her to just 13 games and ultimately ruled her out for the remainder of the season.
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Clark has been rebuilding toward full health and is preparing for her third WNBA season, with hopes of being fully healthy should the league resume in May as planned.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
(© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
While Clark has not played a WNBA game since July due to injury, she has continued to dominate headlines with high-profile appearances, brand collaborations and a massive social media presence. Her visibility off the court has helped elevate both her personal profile and interest in women’s basketball globally.
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On Thursday, Clark made another splash outside of basketball, attending the Prada Fall/Winter 2026/2027 show during Milan Fashion Week in Italy. The event is one of the most anticipated events of the fashion calendar where global celebrities and cultural figures gather for runway presentations from one of the world’s leading designers.
Clark’s return to meaningful basketball action is expected to begin with Team USA, as she and fellow star Paige Bueckers were named to the senior national roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament scheduled March 11-17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Following international play, she could make her much-anticipated return to the WNBA when the Fever open the 2026 season against Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on May 9, provided CBA negotiations allow the league to start on schedule.
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Related: Caitlin Clark Reacts to Former Iowa Teammate’s Engagement Announcement
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
