Caitlin Clark targets WNBA return after injury-plagued year

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark missed most of the 2025 season with injuries and is now preparing to return at full speed for 2026. According to ESPN, her recent months have been built around an intensive rehabilitation programme.

Sources told ESPN that Clark used privately organised pickup games to maintain her conditioning and rhythm during the layoff. Clark herself described the time away from the floor as a 'mental battle' that was as demanding as the physical recovery.

A healthy return matters not just for the Fever but for wider WNBA interest, after the league recorded ratings and attendance gains during Clark's earlier on-court spells. ESPN reported that the Fever are entering the 2026 season with explicit playoff ambitions and Clark central to those plans.