Caitlin Clark details her ankle injury, rehab grind, and the road back to 100%
After missing most of her second WNBA season, Clark spoke at length about the toughest stretch of her career, how she stayed present for teammates, and why she’s confident in a stronger return.
It had been 75 days since the face of the WNBA, Caitlin Clark, last took questions from reporters.
It was back on July 19 at WNBA All-Star weekend. She had just suffered a right groin injury earlier in the week, against Connecticut, but she was the top vote-getter and the weekend was behind held in Indianapolis for the first time in league history — because of the giant audience she attracts.
Three weeks later, as she began ramping up, Clark suffered a bone bruise in her left ankle in Phoenix that delayed her return — and ultimately, time ran out for her second season with the Indiana Fever.
“I just went to make a move and, unfortunately, my ankle like completely rolled all the way forward and probably one of the worst sprains I’ve dealt with,” said Clark, her first comments on the ankle injury, which I first reported. “But I’ve just tried to stay positive the best I can and but I honestly feel like I’m in a really good spot.
“Honestly, my ankle didn’t allow me to really see where my groin was at.”
Clark, who’s just 23 years old, has never suffered a major injury before. She did not miss a game during her rookie season or throughout her record-setting four-year career at the University of Iowa.
So not only is she still very young, but this is all so new to her.
“When you’re injured, it’s honestly more work than when you’re playing,” she said. “I’ve spent so much time here in this building this season just trying to get healthy and trying to get back to 100%.”
Earlier this season, Clark said she’s probably alone in the belief that she loves to practice. She loves to be out there with her teammates. And, of course, she loves to put on the uniform and entertain millions each game — that’s no exaggeration.
Clark enjoyed All-Star weekend even though she could not participate on the floor, then she met with multiple specialists before undergoing more treatment than ever before. From treatment in the training room, to physical therapy, red-light therapy, hyperbaric chamber — if it could help, Clark tried it.
All in an effort to play again this season and be there alongside her teammates. That significant ankle injury derailed those plans.
“There was no decision this is the end of my season,” Clark said of her groin injury in July. “I had full intention of returning and I think, in a way, that was probably positive for me because that’s how I approach every single day. I came in here like I was going to play, I was going to get back out on the court and it probably would have been even more devastating and crushing knowing that I was never going to be able to put my uniform back on for the rest of the season.”