The excitement was real when the Indiana Fever released the very first clips of Caitlin Clark’s offseason training for year 2. She was adding mid-rangers, vying for different finishes, and sneaking in some off-ball movements. Add Stephanie White’s experience in drawing up plays against her as an opponent coach, and you had every reason to be looking ahead to the sophomore season. But where her growth was supposed to dominate headlines, we know the news that took over.

The new head coach did well in her capacity to prepare Clark for a phenomenal season in 2025. She surrounded the 23-year-old with an offensive core and experience. She looked to take her guard out of the comfort zone. And, soon enough, the MVP conversations were picking up her name. But none of that took off the ground, and that’s the real disappointment, the injury delays overpowered.

Visiting the Indiana Fever and Clark’s 2025 season on “Let’s Talk Hoops” podcast, host Cassie Chentel noted how Clark’s setbacks did not really give us a look into her progress. “I don’t know how much she’s improved based on what she showed us in this season from her rookie season to now. We hadn’t seen many changes.” She delivered the hard truth.

In the 13 games Clark played, there wasn’t a notable spike that could get people excited. She did attempt 28 field goals from the mid-range– a good uptick compared to 37 in 40 games last season. But the injuries did not let her build on it. As for the biggest weakness? Coach White still has a task cut out for her– across 13 games, the young guard averaged 5.1 turnovers per game, about 0.5 down from last season. She had a 10-turnover night and two more with 8, but that’s on brand for her 2024 profile, high-usage, high-risk, high-reward basketball. Moreover, she endured a three-game stretch at 1-for-23 from deep, dragging her season 3P% down to roughly 28%. 

So Chentel’s point is simple: Clark couldn’t push the boundaries of her game.

Most of the time, the No. 22 was basically playing on one leg. The season culminated with a total of five injuries: two quad strains, a groin issue on each side, plus an ankle bone bruise picked up while rehabbing that latest groin setback. Clark never got any flow going. After every few games, there was a new niggle. That is something that especially bothered Clark.

She told Sue Bird in early August, “It’s just been so challenging being active and then playing four games, and then not — and then not feeling the best, and then I’m frustrated about how hard I’ve worked in the offseason.” However, like Chentel mentions, the guard will get enough time to put in the work before the 2026 season to showcase her game beyond her rookie year antics. 

Caitlin Clark had company in the injury setback, helps set another record

Caitlin Clark wasn’t the only one injured. On August 7, point guard Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald both suffered season-ending injuries in the same Phoenix Mercury game. It was a torn ACL for Colson and a broken foot for McDonald. Sophie Cunningham tore her MCL on August 17 after her collision with Bria Hartley. That required surgery and will take months to recover from. What began as knee soreness parked Chloe Bibby on the bench for good. Yes, that was some sort of a record. 

Rebecca Lobo featured an ESPN graphic of all the injuries that Indiana has dealt with this season and wrote, “In the last three years, the Indiana Fever are the only team to have five season-ending injuries. Four of the injured players started multiple games. (LA had four season-ending injuries in 2023.)” 

Caitlin Clark had her support system failing like few stars have experienced. Looking at 2026, she will likely have a refurbished roster considering the bakesale in the free agent market. It would likely be constructed on the same lines as 2025, prioritising experience and keeping their young core. Clark cannot experience a season worse than this.