Caitlin Clark Injury Report: What Happened, Who Replaced Her, and How the Fever Responded
The Indiana Fever received concerning news on May 26, when they announced that Caitlin Clark—the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year and franchise centerpiece—would miss a minimum of two weeks due to a strained left quadriceps muscle. The injury came at an inopportune time as the Fever were working to build early momentum in the 2025 season. Clark, a high-performing guard in her sophomore year, had started the season strong, averaging an impressive 19 points, 6 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 1 block, and 2.8 made three-pointers per game, while logging almost 35 minutes per contest.
Tracing the Origins of the Injury
Despite the announcement, the exact moment Clark sustained the quad strain remains uncertain. Her medical history this season shows some red flags, especially with a left leg issue during the preseason. On May 3, she was held out of Indiana’s exhibition opener against the Washington Mystics, suggesting a cautious approach from the Fever’s coaching and medical staff. However, this absence may have been more about rest and recovery than a specific injury, especially considering the Fever had another preseason game the next day.
That May 4 matchup was a high-profile exhibition against Brazil’s national team in Iowa City, effectively a “homecoming” game for Clark, who starred for the Iowa Hawkeyes in college. She played 19 minutes in that contest and contributed across the board: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, and 4 three-pointers, showing no visible signs of injury.
Clark returned to action again in the team’s final preseason game on May 10 against the Atlanta Dream, logging 23 minutes of game time. Her presence in both matchups seemed to reassure fans that any earlier discomfort had subsided.
However, as the regular season unfolded, the left leg again became a concern—this time more serious and localized to the quadriceps. After logging 38 minutes in a close May 24 loss to the New York Liberty, Clark underwent medical imaging. The MRI revealed the quad strain, prompting Indiana to sideline her for a recovery period lasting at least two weeks.
Importantly, head coach Stephanie White clarified during her May 27 media availability that Clark’s quad issue was not related to the earlier preseason leg problem. This indicated a fresh injury, possibly exacerbated by the heavy minutes and high-intensity play Clark is known for.
Clark’s Absence: How Many Games Did She Miss?
While early projections suggested that Clark would be out for four games, she ultimately missed five. Her fifth absence came during Indiana’s June 10 loss to the Atlanta Dream, in which the Fever struggled offensively and lost 77-58. That game dropped Indiana to 4-5 on the season, but the team still maintained a solid position in the Commissioner’s Cup standings.
At that point, Indiana was 2-1 in Cup play, trailing only the New York Liberty, who stood undefeated at 3-0. While New York held a major edge in point differential (+75) compared to Indiana’s +17, the Fever still had a shot to tighten the race with a strong performance in upcoming Cup matchups.
How Did the Fever Replace Clark?
In Clark’s absence, the Fever had to make quick adjustments to fill the void at the point guard position. Head coach Stephanie White turned to veteran guard Sydney Colson to take over the starting role.
Colson, who entered the WNBA in 2011, is a respected veteran presence but has rarely served as a starter over her lengthy career. Before this recent stretch, she had started only 10 games in total. Nevertheless, she was tasked with stabilizing the backcourt while Clark recovered.
During her five starts, Colson averaged 4.0 points and 2.4 assists in 21.4 minutes per game. While her numbers weren’t eye-popping, her veteran leadership and defensive presence helped maintain structure on the floor. She also briefly suffered an injury herself—during a May 30 matchup against the Connecticut Sun—but she was able to return shortly after without missing additional games.
Unfortunately, Colson wasn’t the only guard affected by injuries during this stretch. Sophie Cunningham, a reliable bench contributor, sprained her right ankle—her second sprain of the season—also during the game against the Sun. Her absence further depleted the Fever’s backcourt depth.
Aari McDonald: A Silver Lining Emerges
One of the more positive outcomes of Clark’s absence was the opportunity it created for Aari McDonald, the 2021 first-round pick out of Arizona. The Fever signed McDonald via a hardship exemption on June 1, as their roster had temporarily dipped below the league minimum of 10 healthy players.
McDonald made an immediate impact in her brief stint with the team. In three games, she posted averages of 11.0 points, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 made three-pointers per game while playing 25.3 minutes per contest. She shot 42.9% from the field and 69.2% from the free-throw line.
Her energetic play and two-way abilities helped Indiana win two of the three games she appeared in. The lone loss was the aforementioned defeat to Atlanta. Even though her time with the Fever ended when Clark returned to active status—reducing the roster back to 10 eligible players—McDonald’s solid performance could earn her another opportunity elsewhere in the league.
Clark’s Return and What’s Next for the Fever
The Fever announced that Caitlin Clark would be available for the June 15 showdown against the Liberty, marking her return to game action. This is a critical juncture in Indiana’s season, both in terms of regular standings and Commissioner’s Cup implications.
While Clark’s absence was felt on the scoreboard and in team chemistry, the Fever managed to stay afloat, demonstrating improved depth and resilience. The five-game stretch offered a closer look at the bench talent, especially McDonald, and emphasized the importance of load management for high-usage players like Clark.
With Clark back in the lineup and hopefully with Sophie Cunningham nearing full recovery, the Fever are poised to make another strong push as the season progresses.
Summary of Key Developments
- Injury Timeline: Caitlin Clark was ruled out on May 26 due to a left quad strain, revealed via MRI after her May 24 game.
- Games Missed: Clark missed five games total, returning in mid-June.
- Replacement Starter: Veteran guard Sydney Colson filled in, starting all five games during Clark’s absence.
- Additional Injuries: Sophie Cunningham also went down with a recurring ankle injury during this stretch.
- Notable Performer: Aari McDonald shined during a brief three-game stint, averaging double figures and making a strong case for future WNBA opportunities.
- Fever Record Without Clark: Indiana went 2-3, remaining competitive in the Commissioner’s Cup standings.
- Clark’s Return: She was declared available ahead of the June 15 matchup against New York.
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