When a top-level player is sidelined due to injury, their mental stature certainly takes a hit, and it wasn't any different for Caitlin Clark. But while such issues and Clark herself usually gain a lot of limelight, the 24-year-old isn't really fazed by the cameras on her.

Clark played just 13 games in the Fever jersey last season before being ruled out with a right groin injury and a bone bruise in her left ankle. Now, with the Indiana Fever set to open their season on May 9 at home against the Dallas Wings, Clark has opened up about the challenges of injuries and downplayed the impact of media demands.

In a recent press conference, an interviewer jokingly asked Clark if her injury gave her a “mental break” from the media. She agreed, saying, "Yes, in a way, but obviously, like, that was not what I wanted."

Talking about her well-versedness with the media, she said, "I mean, I would sign up to do media every single day to be able to play and put my jersey on. This is part of the job is getting to talk to you guys every day, and you all do a tremendous job as well. So I know it's part of the responsibility of what I get to do. I mean, there's always cameras in my face, so I'm pretty used to it at this point."

However, she revisited the gruesome phase of her injury and said, "But at the same time, injury is really mentally taxing as well."

Meanwhile, Fever HC Stephanie White made it clear the team plans to be more careful with Clark this season. Speaking on Query & Company, she said the team wants to manage Clark’s workload and not overuse her in practice during a long 44-game season.

Clark's 2025 season started with a quad injury in training camp, followed by another quad strain that sidelined her for five games, then a groin issue that kept her out for four more. In July, a serious groin injury ended her season, along with a bone bruise in her ankle during recovery.

With that challenging stretch behind her, Caitlin Clark is now turning her attention to a fresh start and a healthier approach this season.

Caitlin Clark Gets Candid About Injuries and Comeback

Caitlin Clark said at training camp that she is "100% healthy" after injuries limited her to 13 games in 2025, adding that the time away helped her and head coach Stephanie White learn to be more careful heading into her third season.

"I’m a person that doesn’t want to sit out a single rep, like I want to be in there every single time," Clark said, per the Indianapolis Star.

"But I think just being a little bit smarter with my body…whether that’s recovery, whether that’s pre-court treatment, whatever it is."

As she heads into the new season, Caitlin Clark is focused on building on her strong start. The Indiana Fever is also looking to stay competitive after reaching the semifinals despite injuries, while keeping key players like Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell, and Lexie Hull.

That said, do you expect Caitlin Clark’s Year 3 to be her breakout MVP-level season, or is it still too early to expect so much?

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Souvik Roy