Caitlin Clark's highly anticipated second season in the WNBA has been significantly impacted by a series of injuries, sidelining the Indiana Fever guard for a remarkable 19 regular-season games this summer. Despite her impressive streak of never missing a game throughout her four years at the University of Iowa or her rookie WNBA season in 2024, Clark has faced three distinct muscle injuries, forcing her to watch from the bench, including Saturday's 92-70 win over Chicago and the Commissioner's Cup final.

The string of setbacks began with left leg soreness in the May 3 exhibition opener, described as quad tightness, though she played the following day. More seriously, a left quad sprain announced on May 26 forced her to miss five games from May 28 to June 10, during which Indiana went 2-3. After a strong return on June 14, where she tallied 32 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds against the New York Liberty, Clark was ruled out again on June 26 due to a left groin sprain, missing four games. The most recent and impactful injury, a right groin sprain suffered on July 15, has kept her out for the Fever's past 10 games, leading to her unfortunate withdrawal from her first WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where she was named a captain, and the 3-point challenge.

Despite the absence of their star player, who was last year's Rookie of the Year and a 2024 first-team All-WNBA selection averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 13 games this season, the Indiana Fever have shown remarkable resilience. The team has navigated Clark's extensive absences, as well as season-ending injuries to guards Sydney Colson (left ACL tear) and Aari McDonald (broken right foot), to maintain a competitive 18-14 record. Impressively, they hold a 10-9 record without Clark on the court, including a 6-4 stretch during her latest absence, and have positioned themselves for a second straight playoff berth.

Several factors have contributed to the Fever's ability to survive and even thrive without their highest-profile star. Firstly, a favorable schedule has played a role, with Clark's absences often aligning with easier opponents, particularly during her earlier injury stints. While the schedule has become tougher recently, the team still managed a 6-4 record against opponents closer to the league average net rating in her latest absence. Secondly, the Fever's defense has undergone a significant transformation under coach Stephanie White, who previously led the WNBA's top-rated defensive team. Indiana has improved from 11th out of 12 teams in defensive rating in 2024 to 8th out of 13 teams this season, marking a 7.0-point improvement, the 15th-largest year-over-year defensive leap in WNBA history. The additions of Natasha Howard and Sophie Cunningham, known for their defensive metrics, have bolstered this improvement.

Thirdly, the team has effectively spread responsibility, compensating for Clark's league-leading usage and assist rates. While the overall ceiling of individual player contributions has fallen without Clark, the floor has risen, and the average contributions remain consistent. Players like Kelsey Mitchell and Natasha Howard have seen increased scoring, and Aari McDonald showed a strong performance before her injury. Sophie Cunningham has been particularly effective, averaging 12.4 points with impressive shooting percentages in Clark's absence. However, not all players have thrived; Aliyah Boston's true shooting percentage and scoring have fallen significantly without Clark, indicating the ongoing challenge of adjusting the offense.

The Fever's ability to go 10-9 in Clark's absence is commendable and has allowed them to pursue a playoff run, maximizing the potential of a season where their cornerstone player has missed 60% of the games. While the team has learned valuable lessons and shown a depth indicative of a contender, the underlying numbers reveal a clear difference: the Fever are a much better team with Clark in the lineup. Their offensive rating with her (+4.4 over expected) would rank third in the league, but without her, they fall to league-average despite individual efforts. Ultimately, for the Indiana Fever to reach their ceiling and genuinely compete for a championship, Caitlin Clark will need to return to full strength by the time the playoffs commence, as her long-term health and well-being remain the organization's top priority.