If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately or checking the box scores from the end of the 2025 WNBA season, you probably noticed a glaring absence. One of the biggest names in basketball—maybe the biggest—wasn't on the floor when the Indiana Fever made their surprisingly deep playoff run last fall. It’s been a weird, frustrating year for fans. Everyone wants to know the same thing: is Caitlin Clark still hurt, or are we finally going to see her back at 100% when the 2026 season tips off?
The short answer is: she's on the mend, but the road here was way rockier than anyone expected.
Honestly, it’s been a bizarre chapter for a player who, up until 2025, seemed basically indestructible. In college at Iowa, she never missed a single game. Not one. Her rookie year in the WNBA was much the same—total iron woman. But 2025 was the year the wheels kind of came off, at least physically. After a season defined by "stop-and-go" rehabilitation and a series of nagging lower-body issues, the question of her health isn't just about a single bruise anymore. It’s about her long-term durability.
The 2025 Injury Spiral: What Went Wrong?
To understand if she's still hurt now, you have to look at the absolute mess that was her sophomore season. It wasn't just one injury; it was a domino effect. It started in the preseason with some quad tightness that people mostly ignored. Then, just four games into the regular season, that tightness turned into a full-blown quad strain.
She missed three weeks. She came back, looked okay for a few games, and then—boom—the groin issues started.
- Left Quad Strain: Early summer, kept her out for five games.
- Left Groin Strain: Late June, another five-game absence.
- Right Groin Strain: The big one. July 15, 2025, against the Connecticut Sun.
That July 15th game was the last time we saw her in a Fever uniform last year. She was leading the team to a win, went for a pass, and immediately grabbed her inner thigh. The visual was rough. She was on the bench with a towel over her head, clearly emotional. Later, it came out that while she was trying to rehab that groin, she also suffered a bone bruise.
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Basically, her body was screaming for a break.
Is Caitlin Clark Still Hurt Right Now?
As of January 2026, the vibe is a lot more optimistic. According to team updates and some recent public appearances, Clark is finally back on the court. In late December 2025, she participated in a Team USA senior team training camp, which was a massive signal to the rest of the league. You don't show up to a USA Basketball camp if you're still limping.
While she isn't playing competitive 5-on-5 games every night (it's the offseason, after all), she has explicitly stated in interviews that she feels "100% healthy."
"I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there," Clark shared in a recent social media update. "Disappointed isn't a big enough word to describe how I was feeling last season, but I’m ready."
The Fever medical staff and GM Amber Cox have been extremely protective. They actually ruled her out for the entire 2025 postseason even when there were whispers she might be able to return for the semifinals. They didn't want to risk a career-ending tear just to chase a 2025 title. That patience seems to be paying off.
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Why the "Still Hurt" Rumors Persist
If she’s healthy, why are people still asking?
Part of it is just the nature of how she plays. Clark’s game is high-velocity. She’s constantly changing direction, stopping on a dime for those logo threes, and taking hits in the paint. When a player who has never been injured suddenly misses 31 games in a single season, the "injury prone" label starts to stick, whether it's fair or not.
Also, the Fever are still being vague about her specific lifting and contact progression this winter. We know she’s shooting. We know she’s doing drills. But we haven't seen her in a full-contact, high-stakes scenario since last July. That creates a bit of a "believe it when I see it" atmosphere among fans.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
The Indiana Fever are in a fascinating spot. Last year, they managed to clinch a playoff spot and even pushed the Las Vegas Aces to five games in the semifinals—all without Clark. They did that on the back of Kelsey Mitchell’s incredible scoring and Aliyah Boston’s dominance inside.
Now, imagine adding a healthy Caitlin Clark back into that mix.
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The 2026 season is basically being billed as the "real" Year 2 for Clark. If she stays healthy, the Fever aren't just a playoff team; they're legitimate championship contenders. But there’s a lot of pressure. She’s only under contract through 2027, and the team needs to prove they can keep their superstar on the floor.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following her recovery, here’s what to keep an eye on over the next few months:
- Training Camp Reports (April 2026): Watch for news on whether she’s a "full participant" from day one. Any "load management" talk early on would be a red flag.
- The Nike Signature Shoe Launch: Clark recently teased details about her signature Nike shoe. Often, these big marketing pushes are timed with a "comeback" narrative. If the marketing goes into overdrive this spring, it's a sign Nike is confident she’s ready to be the face of the league again.
- Team USA World Cup Status: Clark has mentioned she wants to play in the 2026 FIBA World Cup in September. Her participation in those qualifying windows and camps will be the ultimate test of her physical durability.
The bottom line? Is Caitlin Clark still hurt? Not in the medical sense of having an active tear or strain. But the "hurt" of a lost season is definitely driving her. She’s spent the last six months watching from the sideline, learning the game from a coach’s perspective, and getting her body right.
Keep an eye on the Fever's preseason schedule. That first time she drives to the hoop and takes a hard foul will be the moment we all hold our breath. If she pops right back up, the rest of the WNBA is in serious trouble.
To stay updated on her progress, you should monitor the official Indiana Fever injury reports as training camp approaches in April and follow verified beat reporters who have access to the team's practice facility at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.