Fever's Playoff Hopes Hinge on Caitlin Clark's Injury Recovery

As of August 17th, 2025, the Indiana Fever find themselves in a precarious position with just 10 games remaining in the regular season. Their star player, Caitlin Clark, has been sidelined indefinitely with a groin injury since the All-Star Break on July 15th.

The Fever currently own an 18-16 record, placing them seventh in the league. With the 2025 WNBA playoffs accepting the top eight teams, Indiana is barely above the threshold. However, they are only one game ahead of the No. 8 seed, the Seattle Storm, and just 1.5 games ahead of the Los Angeles Sparks, who are currently the first team out.

The absence of Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, has been deeply felt by the Fever. She has appeared in just 13 games this season, with her scoring numbers dropping from 19.2 points per game in 2024 to 16.5 points per game in 2025. The team's head coach, Stephanie White, remains hopeful that Clark will return before the end of the regular season, but a definitive timeline for her recovery is still unclear.

Adding to the Fever's woes, the team has also been hit with a plethora of injuries in their backcourt. Backup guards Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson both suffered season-ending injuries in Indiana's August 7th loss to the Phoenix Mercury, further depleting the team's depth. Without Clark, McDonald, or Colson, the Fever have been forced to get creative with their rotation, relying on Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham to shoulder the load.

As the 2025 regular season winds down, the Fever's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. Their desperate need for Caitlin Clark's return to the court is palpable, as they aim to secure a postseason berth and make a push for the championship.