Candace Parker Sends Strong Message to Fever Star Caitlin Clark Amid Injury

The Indiana Fever are headed to the playoffs in spite of the fact the team lost a number of key starters to season-ending injuries along the course of the 2025 campaign.

The biggest loss came when star guard Caitlin Clark missed the majority of the season with groin and leg injuries. Late last week the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year revealed she was done for the season.

"I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling," she shared in a post on social media.

"I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty. This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it’s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the Playoffs."

Candace Parker Warns Against Coming Back Too Soon

Former WNBA star Candace Parker can related to Clark when it comes to an unfortunate injury.

"Big picture, from the outside looking in, I have been a player that has had a number of injuries. And I think later in my career, especially, some of those injuries would have been less or preventable if I had listened to my body earlier, and taken the time," she said on her podcast with Fever star Aliyah Boston.

Parker knows there was likely some extra emphasis and desire for Clark to come back to the team given her importance.

"And there is a difference in being a role player and playing a role and coming in off of an injury. There is a rhythm. But when you are Caitlin Clark, and you have the ball in your hands, and you are in the other team’s scouting report, to come in half and not be able to be in that shape and the rhythm of the game."

Candace Parker Thinks Caitlin Clark Made Right Decision

In the end, Parker thinks Clark and the Fever made the right call to shut her down for the rest of the season.

"Because the rhythm of the game changes towards the end of the year. So when it started getting closer to the end of the season I was like, it’s dangerous to come back during playoff basketball," Parker said. "Because the whole flow of the physicality, all of that is different. So I know it’s difficult to take time and understand the big picture especially when you're living with tunnel vision and you've worked so hard to get to where you're at. But it’s the smart thing."