Caitlin Clark made her return to WNBA competition Saturday in the Indiana Fever's preseason opener against the New York Liberty. After a season-ending groin injury last July and a subsequent ankle bone bruise, Clark's performance was a mix of struggles and highlights. She managed only two of ten field goal attempts but connected on a three-pointer, adding two free throws, three rebounds, and four assists in 17 minutes of play.
Clark spoke in March about the psychological toll of her nagging injuries. "It was these kind of nagging injuries that would build up and build up, and dealt with one on top of the other," she stated. "I think that played with my mind even more than knowing I would be out for a set period of time."
Prior to Saturday's game, Clark also represented USA Basketball in the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament. The Indiana Fever and the WNBA as a whole are looking towards Clark to anchor a significant 2026 season. The team aims for championship aspirations, having fallen short of the WNBA Finals last year with Clark sidelined. The league also anticipates Clark's influence in maintaining its growth and popularity, especially following recent increases in player salaries.
Viewership data from previous seasons highlights Clark's impact. In 2024, she was part of 20 of the 23 WNBA games that surpassed 1 million viewers. Conversely, national television ratings saw a 55% drop during a two-week period in 2025 when Clark was sidelined with a quad injury.
Fever teammate Lexie Hull noted the increased attention and competitive fire from opposing teams due to the surge in popularity. "Because of the fans that we've gotten since 2024, with the rise in, I think, like, popularity with the Indiana Fever being like a name that people know," Hull said. "And there's a million Fever jerseys and Fever shirts. I think, like, as an opposing team, you'd want to win even more because you feel there's so many people rooting."