Nobody realized it at the time, but July 15, 2025, ended up being Caitlin Clark’s last look at the court last season. She left the game against the Connecticut Sun with a groin injury that was supposed to heal quickly, but instead, it marked the end of her sophomore campaign.

While she is still waiting to make a competitive comeback before the next WNBA season tips off, Caitlin Clark did manage to return to the court in some capacity. That moment came at the USA Senior Training Camp held at Duke University, led by head coach Kara Lawson. It was her first real taste of on-court action after so long, and it was anything but a smooth ride.

“It was fun, obviously, to get back out there. It had been a minute. So, like, it was just obviously a long and tough year of reoccurring injuries. And, like, you guys know how that goes. Like, when you get one nagging thing, it kind of leads to another. So it wasn’t obviously how I envisioned it, and it stunk… But it was a long process to, like, just get back on the court… So, like, it’s weird, like, learning to run again in a way,” Caitlin Clark said on the New Heights podcast.

She continued her conversation with Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce, saying, “And then on top of that, like, going to play versus the best players again and just getting tossed back into the fire. But it was fun. Like, I mean, I probably wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Like, you get thrown back out there with the best players in the world, and you see, like, you’re right where you were before you got hurt. And it was only three days, so it was cool.”

With an eye on the 2026 FIBA World Cup, Sue Bird used the camp as an early filter for the final roster. Caitlin Clark attended alongside her Fever teammate, Aliyah Boston, stepping into a highly competitive group that included 10 debutants such as Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins, and Lauren Betts. It also featured several established veterans.

Sharing the court with veterans like Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Kahleah Copper, and Brionna Jones is what makes these camps special and brutal at the same time. According to Annie Costabile on IndyStar’s Fever Insider, Clark had a tough time defensively when matched up against Plum.

One clip from the camp went viral after it showed Caitlin Clark getting beaten off the dribble by Paige Bueckers. Clark gave up space on the perimeter, allowing Bueckers to create separation and knock down a side-step three during a drill. The moment highlighted how defensive footwork and reaction time are still areas Clark is working through as she continues her return from injury.

While basketball fans are counting down the days until Caitlin Clark is back on the court, they’re just as excited for her signature shoe.

Clark Shares Important Detail About Her First Nike Signature Shoe

Now that it is 2026, the wait is finally almost over. Caitlin Clark’s Nike signature shoe is closer than ever, and the WNBA star has already started peeling back the curtain. Speaking earlier on the New Heights podcast, Clark teased some of the design details that went into the shoe, including a feature she hinted has never been seen before.

“Definitely a long time coming. Been in the works for quite some time,” Clark said on the podcast. “Obviously, this is kind of launching like a whole year where my shoe will come out. [I’m] wearing it on the court this coming season. That’s probably what I’m most excited for …”

She continued, “The technology that we’re going to put into it isn’t anything that they’ve ever put into a basketball shoe before, so I’m really excited about that.”

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The hype around this release is already through the roof, and more details on the launch are expected soon. The excitement has been building ever since she dropped her signature logo, launched a clothing line, and appeared in a commercial featuring Lisa Bluder, Travis Scott, Michael Che, and Jason and Travis Kelce.