Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for the rest of the WNBA season, the Indiana Fever star shared on Friday. The popular American basketball player took to X (formerly Twitter) to share this news to her fans and followers. “I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling. I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty. This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it’s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the Playoffs,” she wrote in a long post ending with a black heart emoticon.
What happened to Caitlin Clark?
The 23 year old is suffering from a right groin strain. She had previously dropped five games due to a left quad injury and four games due to a left groin injury. A groin strain is basically when the muscles on the inside of your thigh (the adductors) get overstretched or even torn. It’s super common in athletes, soccer players, hockey players, runners, even weekend warriors at the gym, because those muscles work overtime when you sprint, twist, kick, or suddenly change direction.
Why does it happen?
Most of the time, it boils down to too much, too soon. Maybe you lunged awkwardly for the ball, skipped your warm-up, or pushed harder than your body was ready for. Groin strains also sneak up if your core or hip muscles aren’t strong enough, leaving the inner thigh muscles to pick up the slack. Tightness, poor flexibility, or fatigue just add fuel to the fire. However, exact details of what happened to Caitlin Clark is not available. Here are some common culprits:
- Sudden movements (quick turns, explosive kicks, or sprints)
- Overtraining without enough recovery
- Not warming up properly
- Weak or imbalanced muscles around the hips and pelvis
How long does it take to heal?
Recovery time depends on how bad the strain is.Mild (Grade 1): Just a small overstretch. You might feel sore, but you’ll usually be back in action within 1–2 weeks.Moderate (Grade 2): A partial tear that brings bruising, swelling, and more pain. Expect 4–8 weeks of recovery.Severe (Grade 3): A full tear. This one hurts a lot, often needs medical care, and can take 3 months or more to heal.Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (yep, the classic RICE method) are the go-tos in the early days. Physical therapy, gentle stretching, and strengthening exercises come next. The golden rule? Don’t rush it. Pushing too soon can turn a small setback into a nagging, long-term issue.
