With only nine games left for the playoffs, Indy’s finally made it to the third position in the Eastern Conference with their 19-16 record. But, while the Fever’s still running the race to the postseason, challenges aren’t really going down for the team. That’s because the injury list has only increased while Caitlin Clark’s comeback is eagerly anticipated. And the HC had been quiet on the matter, but there’s finally positive news!

It all comes up as Fever insider Chloe Peterson posted a snap and revealed that CC is participating in the practice session before the team’s upcoming game versus the Minnesota Lynx. While CC wasn’t involved 100%, as per the video posted on X, she was seen getting a pass from Aliyah Boston after the 2023 No. 1 overall pick attempted a shot from nearly half-court. Well, even seeing CC twirling a ball on her finger is a rare sight these days, as she’s been out ever since July 15. However, while CC is participating, the estimated date of return hasn’t been updated by the official team yet, and the last update Stephanie White provided was about being hopeful regarding her return. But there’s a reason behind it, too.

Ever since CC got sidelined on July 15, she’s been said to be recovering from a right groin injury that she re-aggravated during her comeback from a left groin injury. Weeks later, just as ESPN’s timeline suggested she was nearing a comeback, Stephanie White revealed that it’s not only the right groin injury she’s recovering from.

That’s because CC picked up a mild bone bruise in her left ankle during a solo workout in Phoenix on Aug. 7. Unfortunately, her tweak happened on the same day the Fever’s backcourt took a major hit: Sydney Colson (left ACL tear) and Aari McDonald (broken right foot) both went down for the season during a 95-60 loss to the Mercury. And because bad luck apparently runs on a schedule, just ten days later, Sophie Cunningham joined the list with an MCL tear on Aug. 17. “There was no timeline or projected return to play, so it’s impossible to say if it was impacted. So it remains the same, to give Caitlin Clark as much time needed to ensure she comes back fully healthy, which every day she is working hard to do,” White added in a recent interview session with ESPN.

There’s a reason no timeline has been set for the Indiana Fever sensation’s return, even with the team just nine games away from a potential playoff berth. Remember when CC went down two days before All-Star Weekend, right when she was supposed to lead Team Clark? Around that time, Lisa Leslie, who suffered a similar injury back in 2006, revealed that she still feels lingering pain when she plays tennis.

That’s why if CC is to fuel Stephanie White’s dream of winning a championship for her home state, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star needs to be fully healthy before stepping back on the court. After all, she’s expected to lead the team and become the “next woman standing up for Fever.” Thankfully, though, on Wednesday, White had also said, “Until (Clark) can get into practice and until you guys see her in practice, we’re really status quo”. So, with her back in practice, that status quo is now broken, with White still treading carefully. Good news, we must say.

Caitlin Clark, after being limited to 13 games, is eager to play again!

When CC made a debut for the 2025 season in a preseason game versus the Brazilian national roster, she was dominant, shooting threes from as far as 36 feet on court. But just in a couple of games, reality struck hard, and ever since she’s been trying to return to court for a longer stretch without being concerned about injury—so yes, she’s anticipating a return too.

Well, HC Stephanie White puts it better as she said, “It’s been really frustrating… I mean, Caitlin wants to play, you know, she’s a competitor. She just wants to be on the floor. She just wants to play basketball. She’s in the mindset that she’s hungry, right, that she wants to be out there, and she wants to be with her team, and she’s working her butt off to get back in those situations. I think each time you have a tweak, or each time you have something else, it’s frustrating,” during an August 21 interview with IndyStar.

But, to be honest, everything HC shared makes sense—especially when it’s the first time CC’s had a string of injuries coming at her, as she played all 139 games of her collegiate career and 42 games of her rookie year, including playoffs, without injuries. And now, after five years of playing, her sophomore season has left her leaning on the Fever coaching staff—Stephanie White, Karima Christmas-Kelly, and Briann January—for support both mentally and physically.

But still, to help the Fever, who are third in the Eastern Conference right now, CC needs to make a return, as Sophie  (MCL tear), Aari (right foot injury), and Syd (left ACL tear) are out for the season. And while Fever did sign Odyssey Sims and Shey Peddy, they’re on seven-day hardship contracts, which can only be renewed thrice and don’t extend into the postseason. So, will CC be back for the playoffs?