Indiana is enjoying its deepest playoff run in a decade, but they have done it without their star guard. Caitlin Clark’s absence has been one of the season’s biggest storylines ever since she was ruled out with a right groin strain suffered on July 15. Yet, even from the sidelines, her presence still looms large, and the encouraging news is that her recovery appears to be on track.

For the first time since her season update, Clark’s progress can be spotted on the court. As per the latest clip on X, she was seen in a recent shootaround attempting a lot of shots beyond the arc at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Arena. In the video, CC is not only moving freely but also putting pressure on her ankle and right groin while getting shots up. It’s a positive sign, even if the Fever is keeping things cautious with her limited to non-contact drills. And it’s understandable, as Lisa Leslie has already sounded an alarm.

“I had the injury that she had… That deep groin injury is nothing to play around with. It can feel like you’ve never had it, you make one move, one cut—boom—she’s back in the same spot,” Leslie shared during the August 27 episode of We Need to Talk. Leslie had a similar injury back in 2006, and she never really got to recover from it fully, as the pain still lingers when she plays tennis.

And that’s exactly why CC, despite hitting the gym for hours and practicing in drills, preferred to call it off this season. “I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season… disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling,” she shared on September 4.

But still, CC’s workout looked convincing, setting the tone for what must be the most anticipated comeback. Best part? This isn’t the first time she’s participated in such drills. Even before the game versus the Atlanta Dream, she was spotted doing a similar drill during one of those practice sessions. Still and all, some people believe that these drills mean she might make a sudden, surprise entry into this year’s playoffs.

However, as good as it sounds, the answer is no. According to WNBA rules, teams must submit their active roster before the playoffs, and when Indy did, CC was not included. Once the playoffs begin, teams cannot make changes, so yes, Indy’s roster is already set. And while CC is included in shootaround, she’s not participating with the team yet. She hasn’t competed in a game for over two months. So no doubt—she’s preparing for the 2026 season only. As GM Amber Cox added: “We are looking forward to having her back at full strength to start the 2026 season.” But until then, she’s got an important role to play.

Caitlin Clark turns sideline leader!

For now, CC is embracing a different kind of leadership role. She’s often seen proudly anchoring the Fever’s “Bench Mob.” She’s been a constant on the sidelines for all four games. She even had her black Air Force 1s in three of them, hoping to bring in some good luck. But her presence is not limited to the arena.

She’s been active on social media, often praising her teammates and celebrating milestones in real time. She did it recently after Kelsey Mitchell’s electric 34-point performance in Game 1 against the Aces, with a “Kelsey unreal” tweet. Just a week earlier, she went all caps in her appreciation for head coach Stephanie White by posting, “STEPHANIE WHITE!!!!!!!!” after Indy’s first playoff series win since 2015.

And yes, not all of her posts have gone unnoticed by the league. She was even fined $200 for commenting, “Refs couldn’t stop us” on an Instagram post hyping the Bench Mob’s spirit. But that won’t stop her from supporting Indy every step of the way. What do you think?