In Caitlin Clark’s short yet impressive basketball career, the 2025 season was a doomed one. It didn’t just cut short the Fever guard’s season to 13 games; instead, it also put an end to the narrative that Clark is injury-proof. Now, a year later, the Fever guard has reflected on that phase, with a specific emphasis on last year’s training camp.

Speaking in an interview with Golden Sachs, the Fever guard opened up about the quad strain injury that changed the trajectory of her entire 2025 season.

“That was like my claim to fame,” Clark said. “It’s like I was always healthy. I didn’t miss a single game in college. I would play like 40 minutes a night. And then going into training camp, I kind of hurt my quad at the beginning of the training camp. I never got back to 100% health after that and dealt with some other injuries.”

Over her four years at Iowa, Clark played 130+ games. Clark also maintained the same level of consistency in her first year in the WNBA, starting around 40 games for her team despite at times struggling with the league’s physicality and rapid pace.

But in the 2025 preseason, a quad strain altered her trajectory. She did play quite well in the first few games, even then. Clark also recorded some impressive performances, including a 27-point game against the Atlanta Dream.

But after the first few handfuls of games, things went downhill pretty quickly. Injuries began to stack up. First, a left groin sprain, then a right groin injury, and an ankle bone bruise ended her 2025 season.

From a broader perspective, it was a sensible decision not to push through the injury, given its long-term consequences. These injuries also had a much greater impact on Clark’s approach to fitness and her care for her body. The Fever guard also spoke of it during the press conference.

“Looking back now, I think it’s going to be something that’s beneficial for me,” the Fever guard said. “When you are a professional athlete, this is what makes you money. So, you have to be able to take care of it the best you can. And I probably didn’t always prioritize that.

“I always thought I could just go and show up to the gym. I’d tie my shoes, and I will be ready to go. And it doesn’t always work like that. So, it’s a good learning lesson,” Clark added further.

Minor injuries are still disrupting Caitlin Clark’s flow in the 2026 season as well. For instance, the Fever guard missed her team’s latest game against the Portland Fire due to a stiff back. But subsequently, we are also seeing a change in her approach. She isn’t rushing to play with an injury.

Furthermore, she’s also emphasizing recovery. For instance, in the season opener against the Dallas Wings, we saw Clark go to the locker room multiple times for treatment of a stiff back. So, this precautionary aspect is part of her regimen. And for Caitlin Clark, it’s quite the same on the court as well.

Caitlin Clark Outlines Her Shift in Playing Style After the Injury-Laden Season

The injury-laden 2025 season didn’t just change Caitlin Clark’s approach to injuries; it also shifted her perspective on leadership. From a performance-oriented field, Clark went on to emphasize her bonding with teammates to direct them on the court. Clark herself shed light on it during her interview with Golden Sachs.

“I think certainly before I was hurt, I was always the lead-by-example kind of person,” Clark said. “I was going to be in there, working more than anybody. When you get hurt, that’s just kind of hard. When you’re the point guard, you’re the voice everybody listens to. And I think for me, it was like being really conversational and the relationships I have with my teammates.”

In the 2024 season, we saw Caitlin Clark drive the ball with ease on almost every possession. She faced the wrath of the defenders through hard fouls. But it didn’t stop her from challenging them and beating them out.

After last season, Fever guard and team head coach Stephanie White has made it clear that Clark will be used in off-the-ball plays at times during the game. No doubt, CC will still be the primary ball handler for her team. Just not in every play, because Clark herself has admitted that carrying the ball 94 feet every time is pretty “exhausting.”

This new approach will reduce the wear and tear on Caitlin Clark. Furthermore, it will also help her long-term ceiling in terms of fitness.