The Indiana Fever are the talk of the town, the belle of the ball, because of their MVP. Much of that spotlight, of course, belongs to Caitlin Clark, the generational talent who reignited Indiana’s basketball culture with her electric rookie campaign. Her jaw-dropping range, court vision, and competitive fire didn’t just lift the Fever’s profile—they transformed the franchise into must-watch television. As the new season approaches, excitement is at a fever pitch. Fans are eager to see how Clark evolves in her sophomore year and whether she can take Indiana from a rebuilding team to a legitimate playoff contender. But just as anticipation builds, an early setback looms.

Ahead of a highly anticipated preseason matchup against the Washington Mystics, the Fever may be without their brightest star. Caitlin Clark is officially listed as doubtful due to a lingering left leg injury, casting uncertainty over her 2025 WNBA debut. While the team has yet to confirm the extent of the issue, even a minor delay is enough to put fans and analysts alike on edge. With Clark at the heart of the Fever’s game plan and the league’s marketing momentum, her absence, even in preseason, would be a significant blow. It’s a reminder that in a league growing as fast as its stars, the margins between hype and hardship can be razor-thin.

In a clip published by Indiana beat reporter Scott Agness, CC addressed her availability for today’s game. “Just a little tightness. I’ll go through all our warmups and everything — and then they’ll decide if I’m good to go or not.” She said, and fans are concerned whether they’ll get to see her against the Mystics. However, her sitting out would definitely make sense!

For the team, there is no single player as important as Caitlin Clark. The Fever got a huge boost because of her presence last year, and a preseason game is definitely not important enough for CC to take the biggest risk. After an intense one-week-long camp, Indiana might be looking to rest up Clark today so that she’s fit to play the preseason game in Iowa tomorrow.

But has the team given any official updates about Clark’s availability for this WNBA preseason fixture? Let’s find out what exactly is going on in the Indiana Fever locker room and what the situation is with CC’s injury.

Caitlin Clark too hard to risk for Fever coach

Well, it seems like Fever fans will have to wait another day to see their hero in action. Caitlin Clark doesn’t seem to be playing the first fixture against the Washington Mystics. The Indiana Fever has taken quite a firm call, and many must be disappointed. Their starters against the Mystics comprise Colson, Mitchell, Bonner, Howard, and Boston, according to beat reporter Scott Agness.

But what exactly was their thought process behind this decision? Well, before the starters were announced, Stephanie White made sure to address this particular situation.

The Indiana Fever head coach stressed the importance of Caitlin Clark staying healthy throughout this season. “I mean, look, the biggest thing is we have to think long term.” She said. “We have to make sure we’re not putting Caitlin at risk for injury, we’re not putting our team in a position where we’re thinking short term.” And we’re all for it!

If Clark gets ruled out, the Fever will suffer a huge blow. They might be contenders right now, but it all hinges on the Iowa alum. And for the Fever front office, as a pure business decision, they took the right call. After all, the goal is to win championships, not preseason games.

However, there is a very exciting fixture on the cards for tomorrow. The Indiana Fever will be facing the Brazilian National Team in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and this game is very special for several reasons. What fans will focus on, however, is Clark’s comeback to her alma mater after her jersey made its way to the rafters earlier this year. It will be interesting to see how this particular fixture pans out!