The Indiana Fever welcomed back All-Star guard Caitlin Clark to the starting lineup after she missed five games.
Despite her return to the lineup though, the Fever came out flat against the Golden State Valkyries and suffered an 80-61 loss while falling to 9-10 on the season. Clark managed 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting with six assists and five rebounds in her first game back since suffering a groin injury on June 24.
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“It felt good to be out there. It’s going to take me a second to get my wind back,” Clark said following the loss. “There’s not anything that can replicate a true game… I was trying to play shorter stints, but sometimes it’s almost harder to sit on the bench and come in the game. It’s kind of finding a balance of that. Just trying to get my legs under me.”
Ahead of the game Clark admitted it was “obviously hard sitting out” with her second injury of the season. “It’s been so challenging because I’ve never been through this before,” she said.
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Earlier this season, Clark suffered a quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on May 24 and subsequently missed five games. After missing 10 of the team’s 19 games this season, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year admitted how mentally taxing the 2025 campaign has been with her two significant injuries.
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“It’s honestly been hard, I’m not gonna lie to you. It’s difficult going to prepare for games, but knowing you’re not going to be playing in them,” Clark said on Wednesday. “It’s challenged me mentally. It’s really hard to stop and go, stop and go, stop and go, especially when you’re not feeling your best. Just trying to get my body as healthy as I can be and remain confident in myself.”
Indiana will attempt to bounce back from its 10th loss of the season when it faces off against the Atlanta Dream on July 11. This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams this season with the Dream holding a 2-1 advantage.
Related: Angel Reese Bracing for Punishment After Another Brutal Loss
Caitlin Clark Makes Heartbreaking Admission Amid Injury first appeared on Men’s Journal on Jul 10, 2025
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