When it comes to encouraging injury updates, Caitlin Clark says she’s “back to 100 percent.”
Caitlin Clark, an Indiana Fever star and Iowa legend, gave the kind of update that Fever supporters have been eagerly awaiting for months on Wednesday at The ANNIKA Pro-Am. Clark reports that she feels like herself again, physically, mentally, and competitively, following a frustrating WNBA season that was full of starts, stops, and extended periods of time spent on the sidelines.
Nobody could have predicted how Clark’s second WNBA season would turn out. Clark had to deal with a series of injuries that ultimately ended her campaign after she burst into the league with record-breaking viewership, unachievable hype, and a target permanently fixed on her back. Her right groin injury, the most obstinate of the group, kept her out of Indiana’s stellar playoff run and limited her to just 13 games. It was a cruel setback for an athlete whose game depends on rhythm, ingenuity, and constant movement.
Updates on Clark’s recuperation were patchy and frequently ambiguous during the season and the first few weeks of the offseason. Groin injuries are infamously erratic; one day you may feel completely recovered, but the next day, even minor motions serve as a stark reminder that the healing process is still ongoing. It cast doubt on when she would fully return. However, that cloud finally began to lift on Wednesday.
However, that cloud finally began to lift on Wednesday. At the Pro-Am, Clark was asked if she had been improving her golf game during her recuperation in a humorous interview with the Golf Channel. Even though her response was informal, it was the result of months of anticipation and conjecture. Clark acknowledged, “Unfortunately, it means I’ve played less, just because I haven’t been able to get out there with some of the injuries that I was dealing with.” Then came the much-anticipated news. “But I feel 100% again now.”
For the first time since the injury issues started, Clark has stated in public that she feels completely well. During the interview, she smiled to control her competitive fire, but it was clear that she was relieved. This is a huge update for the Fever and all women’s basketball fans nationwide. When Clark is at his best, there are more highlights and higher box scores. It marks the return of one of the most captivating storytellers in the sport, whose mere presence boosts the league’s vitality and prominence.
Even though Clark’s statements are encouraging, the real test will be on the hardwood. Playing healthy is different from feeling healthy. The WNBA demands accuracy. Time and speed. From the tight handle that enables her to avoid traps and double teams to the quick release on her deep three-pointers, Clark in particular believes that even the smallest details count. It will require repetitions, perseverance, and a little game-time rust shaking to get all those components back into perfect sync.
However, the offseason is lengthy, and Clark has never shied away from a task. She is a player who thrives in situations like this, when hardship forces a reset and the only way out is through. Her rise at Iowa, her unwavering leadership, and her steady development as a pro all point to this.
The Fever may be in for a third-year surge if she is fully recovered, which would rekindle the team’s drive and serve as a reminder to the league of why Clark’s name has come to represent hope. But for the time being, her words are clear enough: Caitlin Clark is prepared once more. And that alone makes all the difference.
