The 2025 season was like a blur for Caitlin Clark. Clark suffered multiple soft tissue injuries and a bone bruise that ultimately ended her quest to return in time for the playoffs. Clark did everything, pushing head athletic trainer Maria Witte for long hours in the gym. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. And now Clark has revealed that the emotional toll from that was bigger than the physical one. 

Clark has always been candid about her mental health struggles. Clark said battling the injury bug has been “challenging mentally,” despite doing everything “to put myself in a position to be available the rest of the year. ” That was when a return during the playoffs was still a possibility. While sitting on the sidelines for the regular season was hard, it became worse when it came to the semifinals. 

“I think the toughest moments for me were the night before the games. You’re in your hotel room on a road trip, and your team is gearing up to play in Game 5 of the semifinals to maybe go to the Finals, and you know you don’t get to put your uniform on,” Clark said in an interview on NBA Today. “That makes me emotional right now. That just ate at me. I hated that.”

Caitlin Clark had never missed a game since high school until that first preseason game in 2025. She had been available for every big game and relished the big stage. Whether it was the National Championship game in 2024 where she dropped 30 points, or the Final Four in 2023, Clark has always turned up when it matters the most. 

But this time, she couldn’t and it was a learning curve for the superstar. The intensity and the will to win were all bottled up on the sidelines and it was visible to the fans. Clark was arguably the most active player from the bench in the league, forming  “the bench mob” with the rest of the injured players.

But she did not let the frustration get out of control, channeling that energy to lead her side from the sidelines and guide her team whenever needed. Clark has admitted that the experience will help her in the future. “I think kind of just having a renewed perspective on the game,” Clark said. “When you watch from the sidelines, it isn’t always the most fun, but you learn a lot about yourself, you learn a lot about being a good leader and being a good teammate.”

Despite the troubles, Clark had her own support system. Her boyfriend Connor McCaffrey scouted to get players for her first practice games after injury, along with player development coach Rob Dosier. Coach Stephanie was always by her side. But beyond her close ones, there was one NBA star that understood what she was going through and reached out. It was LeBron James. 

Caitlin Clark Drops Surprise Detail About LeBron James’ Role in Her Rehab

LeBron James and Caitlin Clark have been linking up for a while now. James has been publicly hyping Clark ever since her Iowa days. “If you don’t rock with Caitlin Clark game you’re just a FLAT OUT HATER!!!!! Stay far away from them people!! PLEASE,” he wrote in April 2024. At every step during her rehab, including her Team USA return, James has been vocal about motivating the star. Now, Caitlin Clark has revealed a major role for James behind the scenes as well. 

“I think LeBron James has been there to support me more than anything. He understands the microscope and spotlight I’m under, and he wants to be there for me,” Clark said. “When I was hurt last year, he reached out and asked if there was any way he could help me or connect me with anybody. He’s somebody trying to help you, help make the game better, and help you improve. I think that’s a lot of our relationship now.”

Clark and James have similar early career trajectories as far as popularity goes. Early in his career, anything short of a Hall of Fame trajectory would have been viewed as a failure

for James. Somehow, he went on to outperform those high standards. He has also had his share of criticisms and ‘haters’ whom James has learned to handle. 

Clark has arguably been under even more pressure because she has been the biggest women’s basketball star ever since college basketball. There are few players in her stratosphere as far as popularity goes. Whereas James had other NBA stars that commanded attention as well. So, it’s not exactly a perfect mirror. But who better to learn from than the King himself?