After months of speculation and endless questions about her return, Caitlin Clark finally announced that she will sit out the rest of the 2025 WNBA season. For someone as passionate as her, the decision was undeniably heavy. Fans who’d specifically buy game tickets when she was playing were left disappointed. But ask Chicago’s Dr. Jeremy Alland, and he will tell you there’s a silver lining shining through it all. 

Appearing on FOX 32 Chicago’s Chicago Now, Dr. Alland pointed out the positive side of Caitlin Clark’s recent announcement. He said, “She has to face the media every single day and certainly social media and is probably tired of hearing the question ‘when are you coming back?’ I think when you shut her down and she says, ‘I’m not coming back this season,’ it really takes a load off her, and she can focus on getting better. She doesn’t have to answer those questions anymore, doesn’t have a timeline anymore, if I get back for playoffs, and so on and so forth. I think she can really just focus on herself, and it usually goes a lot better.”

Perhaps he is right. Throughout the season, Clark faced persistent inquiries about her return, a constant reminder of the expectations placed on her. If Fever lost, her name was in the headlines, too– had she been there, then maybe the team would have performed better?  After never having missed a single game in her rookie year, she appeared in just 13 games in 2025. Despite her efforts to rehabilitate, the pressure to return intensified. 

 Her troubles began with a left quadriceps strain during training camp, followed by a left groin injury on June 26. Despite these setbacks, Clark made her return to the court on July 9 against the Golden State Valkyries. In that game, she contributed 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in just under 25 minutes of play. However, the Fever suffered an 80–61 loss, dropping their record to 9–10 on the season. Following this game, Clark played in three more contests. During this stretch, she struggled with her shooting, going 1-for-23 from beyond the arc. On July 15, in a game against the Connecticut Sun, Clark sustained a right groin injury in the final minutes, which ultimately ended her season.

But the decision to bring her back and how, too, was met with scrutiny. Experts said she was being brought in too soon. When she hurt her groin for the second time, sports physician Dr. Jesse Morse noted “compensation patterns” forming that added to the pre-existing vulnerability, potentially leading to a worse outcome with time.  Head coach Stephanie White, too, admitted to mishandling Clark’s injury and return timelines. 

Now, with Clark’s season officially over, the focus for the Indiana Fever has shifted from hoping for a deep playoff run to securing a spot in the postseason and proving they can compete without their star guard.

Indiana Fever Prepare to Lock in a Playoffs Spot Against the Washington Mystics

As the Fever prepare to face the Washington Mystics on September 7, every possession and performance takes on added significance. It’s a must-win game for them if they want to lock in their playoff berth and build momentum heading into the postseason. But it won’t be easy. 

Although the Mystics are eliminated from playoff contention and are on an eight-game losing streak, they lead the head-to-head against the Fever this season, 2-1. Props to talents like rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen on their roster, who could pose challenges for the Fever.

For Indiana to secure a win, Kelsey Mitchell will need to deliver a standout performance against Aliyah Boston, while Boston herself must continue her dominance in the paint. As for the guard position, despite injuries, they have Odyssey Sims has stepped up as a reliable ball-handler, providing stability to the backcourt.