After an unexpectedly strong run, the Indiana Fever were ultimately defeated not by an opposing team but by injuries. The team battled its way to the semifinals, even pushing the second-seeded Las Vegas Aces to a decisive Game 5. However, in the most critical moment of the game, Kelsey Mitchell sustained an injury and had to leave the court. This situation echoed the struggles faced by Caitlin Clark, who has also been dealing with injuries throughout the season.

However, there is some positive news for those fans amidst Indiana’s season end. The update came from Fever head coach Stephanie White, who sat down in front of the press for her exit interview. She shared the main goal of Indiana with Clark: building endurance. As White puts it, “Yeah, I mean obviously, those are some conversations that we’ll continue to have with Caitlin. But I think first and foremost, as she builds up her endurance, her on-court activity, [we’re] making sure that she’s healthy.”

Indiana Fever head coach stressed that Caitlin Clark’s recovery will be a gradual process, with the focus first on mechanics and then on regaining endurance. White noted that Clark has not played five-on-five in a long time, so integrating that will be an important step later in the offseason.

“And then continuing to move forward in terms of mechanics, number one and number two, basketball. She’s got to at some point in this off-season play five-on-five. It’s going to have been a long time since she has. And so how we get that together, we’ll have to see,” White says.

But for now, the priority is ensuring Clark feels good physically, managing soreness, and building back strength without losing the improvements she’s made. White emphasized that it will be “baby steps” throughout the long offseason, with Clark’s health taking precedence before any ramp-up in workload. White summed it up by saying, “We’ll start building back up, and it’s a long offseason. She’s had a long year from this point.”

The second year of Caitlin Clark has been rather lackluster for her fans. Out of the 44 regular-season and eight postseason games, Clark only competed in 13 games this season. Her sophomore year was marred by multiple injuries, forcing her to the bench for a long time. There were many occurrences of rumors of Clark’s return this season. But in the end, her injuries got the better of her.

Despite not being an active contributor in the games, Caitlin Clark was present in almost all Indiana matchups, showing support from the sidelines. This quality of hers to contribute even when injured was lauded by Fever general manager Amber Cox. In her exit interview, Cox said, “No one worked harder than Caitlin. Nobody wanted to be out on the court more than Caitlin. I’m so looking forward to what next year is going to look like for her, because I think we’re going to see another level, which is unbelievable to even think about.”

Furthermore, Fever GM praised Caitlin Clark for being a steady leader despite her injury, highlighting her presence as a great teammate and vocal leader in the locker room. She added that the organization is proud of Clark’s resilience and eager to see her return to the court. And with Stephanie White laying down a roadmap for her return, it looks like Fever is placing a lot of hope in her. It is something that they must do, though, as some key Indiana players are entering free agency.

Caitlin Clark might not have some key teammates next season

Apart from her off-season revamping practice, Caitlin Clark is set for a public speaking appearance. She has a scheduled engagement at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists conference in December. But ramping up in the off-season is the least of her worries. She might also have to train with her new teammates.

Lexie Hull will enter free agency in 2026. However, she has shown a willingness to stay with Indiana. “I’ve built a life here, and I love this franchise. I love the people, I love the fans, so we’ll see what comes,” Hull said. However, the final decision is yet to come forward. It can happen that Hull joins another franchise if Indiana does not extend her an offer.

Furthermore, the lead scorer for Indiana this season, Kelsey Mitchell, will also enter free agency this offseason. But it looks like the Fever front office will most likely retain her. Before the 2025 season, Mitchell agreed to a core qualifying offer that secured her a deal worth $249,244. In addition, the Fever awarded her a $20,000 time-off bonus for the current offseason.

Apart from Hull and Mitchell, veteran Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, Damiris Dantas, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald will also enter free agency, along with other signings during the hardship season. Only the core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Makayla Timpson are under contract for the Indiana Fever.