Is Caitlin Clark’s season in jeopardy? Indiana Fever struggle without star guard as playoff race heats up

The Indiana Fever seemingly depends on Caitlin Clark's availability as the 2025 WNBA season progresses. The star player has already missed her 12th consecutive game as her team lost to the Washington Mystics on Friday.

It was their 16th loss of the season.

Caitlin Clark's absence due to her injury is hurting the Indiana Fever as the postseason race gets closer. Hence, head coach Stephanie White wants to have her back before the regular season ends.

Caitlin Clark’s absence continues to hurt the Indiana Fever as the playoff race intensifies in the 2025 WNBA season

After suffering a right groin injury against the Connecticut Sun on July 15, the 23-year-old has been sidelined ever since. The comeback date of the Indiana Fever's standout point guard is still unknown, one month later.With ten games remaining and without their best player, the team is in seventh place and is just surviving to qualify for the playoffs. Now, everyone is starting to question whether the star player’s season is over as the end draws near.

Before Saturday's Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever game, head coach Stephanie White refrained from offering a specific response. When asked whether Caitlin Clark would return before the season ends, she said:“That's the hope.

The hope is that she's back."She further stated in an interview last Monday that Caitlin Clark had made good progress but had not yet begun practicing with the squad. Additionally, after guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald sustained season-ending injuries on August 8, the team's injury issue has gotten worse.The Indiana Fever hired veteran guard Odyssey Sims and Kyra Lambert this past week in an attempt to fill the void.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the WNBA star stated that she still lacked a timeline for a possible comeback during an interview on Sue Bird's Bird's Eye View podcast.

Before the Indiana Fever's game against the Dallas Wings on August 12, she was listed as a game-time decision on the WNBA’s website, but she did not make a comeback that day. She was also not listed as one of the team’s likely starters for Sunday's game.Meanwhile, the WNBA icon has battled a number of illnesses this season that have kept her from participating. She had previously missed five games due to a left quad injury and four due to a left groin issue.Also read: Caitlin Clark withdraws from WNBA All-Star weekend due to groin injury, will still attend events