Adding 4 more games seemed like a good idea at the beginning of this season, to capitalize on the WNBA’s popularity boom and all, but it’s shaping up to be a bad move for Cathy Engelbert. Players, coaches, and management alike are raising red flags about the league’s scheduling and the overuse injuries that have resulted from it. Their best examples? Caitlin Clark, and more recently, Napheesa Collier.
After Clark got hit with injury after injury, the genie came out of the bottle. Games were sometimes shoved too close together. “For us as players, recovery is so important. We put our bodies on the line every single time. We had nine games in 18 days. That’s not really responsible for a commissioner.” Mercury star Satou Sabally pointed out recently, and she wasn’t alone. This year, the average gap between games is 2.7 days. Last year? It was 4.
Aliyah Boston and Candace Parker sat down to talk about this issue on the latest episode of Post Moves. “We play like every other day, every two days, we have back-to-backs. Four games in seven days with travelling, our bodies are kind of feeling it.” Boston said, pointing out the stress in her schedule. And honestly? It’s true. We’re seeing more and more injuries pop up. Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier are the biggest names to have gone down recently, but stars like Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are also dealing with back and knee issues quite consistently.
However, the Indiana Fever forward found a silver lining to the entire situation. “But I also think it’s great for us as players to once again prioritize that. Because this is not just for this season, you want to make sure for your career in the long run that you’re taking care of your bodies.” She said. But is the lesson worth the risk? Probably not. Clark has already missed 20 games so far this season, and we don’t really know when she’s going to be back.
Even WNBA legend Candace Parker pointed out how the league has changed in terms of scheduling since her playing days. “When I left, it was 36. And then that year I retired it moved to 40 and now it’s at 44. So with that being said in the same amount of time frame, it’s not allowing rest and recovery.” Parker said.
Quite clearly, there’s an issue here. Players are addressing this problem through the ongoing CBA negotiations, but we’re not sure if they’ll achieve a favorable result. After all, an economic boom means fans want to see more. And why wouldn’t the league provide? But it certainly has put some of our biggest stars out of commission.
This decision has led to a period of transition for the Indiana Fever, and even their star forward admitted as such. “So it’s definitely hard, I feel, playing without your teammates. Especially for us playing without C.” And we’re all feeling her absence! According to head coach White, however, we may have to wait a while before seeing CC on the floor again.
Caitlin Clark’s date of return still unclear
Last time around, Stephanie White and the Indiana Fever medical team got battered for reintroducing Caitlin Clark to the game too early. The Fever star has been dealing with injuries since the very start of the season (left quad and bilateral groin), and her struggles culminated in ten-straight missed games. So, now that the six-foot-tall point guard is close to returning yet again, White wants to take it slow.
And by slow, we mean very slow. Clark hasn’t started practicing with the team even after a month of absence from the league. In a video clip from the IndyStar, Indiana HC Stephanie White clarified where the superstar stood in terms of her return to the sport, and to team practice.
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) calls a travel on Los Angeles Sparks’s Kelsey Plum (10) on Saturday, July 19, 2025, during the WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“No return to practice,” White said, disappointing fans across the country. “She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full court running, with all of her body weight. It’s really building up from doing minimal to then building some endurance to do longer periods of time. She’s been able to do a little bit more on the court in terms of how she moves, but no return to practice yet.”
The biggest issue that a lot of athletes have after injury is succumbing to fatigue. When players are tired, their technique and movement quality break down, and they’re more susceptible to getting hurt again. So, Stephanie White’s approach to Clark’s injury is a good sign that when the Indiana Fever star returns this time around, she’ll be here to stay.
It will be interesting to see how exactly Indiana will reintegrate Caitlin Clark and when the star will finally take the court. The stadiums are waiting, and so are the screens. There’s a chance that the Fever star might return this month, but only time will tell. Stay tuned for more!
The post WNBA Risk Linked to Caitlin Clark Turns Blessing for Indiana Fever Teammate appeared first on EssentiallySports.
