Caitlin Clark and her fans share a chemistry that’s hard to find. Not just because she’s a global sensation, but because she repeatedly expresses deep gratitude for her supporters, especially the young girls who look up to her. As she once said during a summit, “The young girls that are at our games screaming and having the time of their lives… I was just in their shoes… That’s the reason that you play… but the amount of joy you can bring people.” That’s the kind of bond she holds with fans. But it’s not always pure excitement when fans spot her. Sometimes, they’re left a little anxious, too.
It all unfolded as CC and company took on the LA Sparks in what was a tough showdown—one the Fever ultimately lost. However, the attention shifted to the sidelines after watching Caitlin walk toward the bench. No, she didn’t do anything wrong. She was just being her usual self, but her body language left spectators uneasy. She looked relaxed as she strolled toward the seats, hands tucked casually in her pockets. But just as she reached them, she slid one hand out and placed it on the chair for support, settling in with a slight stiffness. Subtle, but enough to suggest not everything felt quite right.
awww this is so sweet pic.twitter.com/TtmY1Qw34F
— correlation (@nosyone4) August 6, 2025
Sadly, this isn’t unusual anymore. She has missed more games than she’s played this season. It’s been a long time since CC was on the court drilling logo threes and giving fans every reason to chant her name. The injury bug seems to have finally won, despite her fighting through it time and again. Consider this: a star who didn’t miss a single game in her last four collegiate seasons and one pro rookie year now finds her sophomore season limited to just 13 games.
Why? Because she’s been injured thrice this year, keeping aside the preseason quad soreness. Then came a left quad injury. While she missed a few games, she returned just in time for a big matchup against the Liberty, where she nailed seven three-pointers. But, the game after, her shooting slump was noticeable, and eventually, the cause became clear.
She had sustained a left groin injury, an issue that takes considerable time to heal. And although she looked fine a few days later and took a short rest, it wasn’t enough. She then injured her right groin, and just two days before the All-Star Weekend, she withdrew, leaving with visible tears.
So naturally, fans had a lot to say in the comment section.
After the game, they jumped straight into discussions—not to criticize refs, other players, or to shower CC with praise, but to express concern for her well-being. “Don’t like how delicate she was still sitting down,” one user noted. Of course, she was. And she had made it clear earlier as well. After missing the All-Star Game, CC opened up during a media session: “This is the first time I haven’t felt like a young body that can run around and sprint every day and just continue to do that. Being a professional athlete, you really have to take care of both your body and your mind — it’s been a journey learning about that.”
As another user put it, “Um, why did she slowly sit down like that?… I’m scared. I hope she’s getting better and not the opposite.” Well, yes, their concern is real, especially because her current injury stems from the rest she didn’t take earlier, and now it’s already cost her multiple games. But, are there long-term dangers? According to MercyOne Genesis’ interview with Quad Cities News, yes.
“It can be weeks to months. It depends on several factors—the degree of tissue damage, whether it’s just an overstretch or an actual tear. It could be a small tear or a complete rupture, which could require surgery,” said Keegan Horack, manager of MercyOne Genesis Physical Therapy in Bettendorf. And it’s not just doctors sounding the alarm. WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who suffered a similar injury in 2006, shared the bleak reality on CBS Sports’ We Need to Talk, too.
Jul 15, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts with a possible injury after a play against the Connecticut Sun in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
“I really feel for Caitlin Clark, because I actually had that injury in 2006… I was heavily taped around my thigh, around my glute… The groin is an area you can’t just point to. You feel it deep. You need deep treatment—ice, heat, and rest. But Caitlin Clark can’t find much rest right now—she’s midseason.” she said. And her comment about lingering pain seems eerily accurate when you see how CC sits or gets up. And if that’s not enough, then consider that even now, Leslie says she still feels the discomfort when she plays tennis.
But not all fans are seeing doom and gloom. “Caitlin is sitting awkward. I don’t see the cushion, at least, which is a good sign,” wrote another user. Yes, some are hopeful. The absence of the cushion she had been sitting on could mean progress. And head coach Stephanie White confirmed, “It’s day-to-day right now, we’re putting no timetable on it.”
Still, others remain cautious. “Damn, she can’t even sit right,” said one concerned fan. The Fever, meanwhile, is prioritizing her recovery. White added, “[She is] going through the rehab process, and then we want to reintegrate her from a strength and conditioning standpoint and then get her back to basketball activities. So we’re taking it one day at a time, really slow rolling it, slow playing it this time…” So yes, there’s some good news—sort of. But fans are still left wondering: Will CC be back? Especially now that the Fever’s five-game win streak was snapped in a loss to the LA Sparks.
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