This year’s All-Star weekend has always meant more than competition for Caitlin Clark. She was in for the vibes, for the excitement of the fans, and she was ready to deliver. So when injuries forced her out of the festivities, she banked on the rest of the fun the weekend had to offer. It started with the party the previous night, slid through 5 event appearances, and ended with a courtside sighting with her favorite person. Or people, rather.

This is Clark’s second consecutive year missing the three-point contest, but a sound decision nonetheless, considering the trend in her injuries. The Fever has already put her health on the line once, and there’s no reason to do it again. So stepping in for the Fever sensation in the three-point contest was her teammate Lexie Hull, who’s been lights-out from deep, shooting an impressive 46.8 percent from beyond the arc. Hull is, without question, the next best option. So yes, Clark was present, just as she often is at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, greeting fans and backing her teammates every step of the way.

Standing proudly by her side was the apple of her eye, Connor McCaffery, the man Clark says ‘makes every day better’ as she shared in a heartfelt birthday post. Clark, all smiles, stepped into the arena where McCaffery was waiting. They shared a quick embrace, and he gently kissed the side of her head. Then, like clockwork and true to college camaraderie, her Iowa teammates swept in right on cue, crashing the scene with perfect timing.

Clark is arguably the greatest college player of all time. And she believes her teammates are a big reason why. They made the environment such that the machine could thrive and take them to their potential. Even after college, the love and respect run high.

It’s not just the All-Star weekend; they were also present for her homecoming in the preseason when the Fever faced Brazil in Iowa. They stood by her when the shots weren’t falling, and they’re still her rock now that she’s at the top. Time and time again, the Fever star has acknowledged her teammates’ contribution, and she remains the same way in the WNBA.

Clark was all in when her replacement hit the court for the first round. She shared a photo of Lexie Hull with the other contestants and simply wrote, “My queen @lexiehull.” The tres leches, Clark, Hull, and Sophie Cunningham, have been the talk of the league since the season tipped off. Cunningham may be the latest to join the mix, but the trio has already served up plenty of attitude, laughs, and highlight-reel chemistry. Just like with her Iowa teammates, Clark’s bond with them is electric, and their energy unmatched.

Clark No Longer Has to Do It Alone

Caitlin Clark was once the one trying to do everything herself. She was frustrated that her teammates did not work as hard as she did. “When she was a freshman, she didn’t really trust her teammates,” her Iowa coach, Lisa Bluder, said. “She didn’t really understand them or think they worked as hard as she did, and it took time to build that up.”

Clark was such a talent that she actually could do everything by herself and win them games. Bluder saw this as a flaw in Clark, and slowly but surely, changed her attitude. She went to college being a slightly selfish talented ball player she graduated as a mature leader.

And now, that change is paying off. Clark has never been injured before this season. She missed her first game ever since her high school years, when she sat out the preseason game against the Washington Mystics. That started a worrying trend of repeated injuries, which is yet to finish. And this time, her teammates are handling the reins of the team and ensuring they don’t fall off the rails without their best player.

Kelsey Mitchell is playing out of her mind, Aari McDonald looks every bit like a veteran who belongs in Indiana, and Lexie Hull has been nothing short of a revelation. Sophie Cunningham is showing exactly why the Fever brought her in, making key plays and adding fire on both ends.

So when Caitlin Clark reinjured her groin, the only real concern was her health and not whether the team could hold it down. Clark isn’t stressing about how they’ll manage without her. The focus is entirely on rest and recovery. After their win over the Sun, Mitchell summed it up: “I think it’s just about making sure she feels comfortable, getting what she needs, and finding the spots to get.” Even in the games following her return, shot attempts were more evenly distributed, a clear shift from when Clark used to carry most of the offensive burden herself.

A weekend off could be exactly what Clark needs,and with her teammates stepping up, the Fever are giving her space to heal without pressure.