Aug 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the game between the Dallas Wings and the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

ESPN Pushes Back Caitlin Clark Estimated Return Date Amid Injury News

Originally posted on Women's Fastbreak on SI
By Grant Young | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 7:48 PM ET

During ESPN's August 12 broadcast of the Indiana Fever vs Dallas Wings, play-by-play extraordinaire Ryan Ruocco made an interesting statement about when star guard Caitlin Clark could be returning to games.

"That stretch where [the Fever] have the week off is where Stephanie White reiterated to us today, she's hoping Caitlin Clark returns to practice. Stephanie talked yesterday about how Caitlin has been running more, doing more on-court work. She is hoping that Caitlin returns to practice next week, would need multiple days in practice before she then gets into a game," Ruocco said.

"But you see the way the schedule stacks up after that week, and wonder, could one of those games against Minnesota, or maybe the 26th at home against Seattle, be a potential return game," he concluded of Clark.

That "week off" Ruocco alluded to has now concluded, as the Fever are facing the Minnesota Lynx on August 22. And Clark is still not back to practicing. Therefore, it's looking very unlikely she'll return by August 26.

ESPN Adjusts Caitlin Clark's Estimated Return Date

At the time Ruocco made those comments, most figured that Clark was solely recovering from the groin injury she suffered during the Fever's July 15 game against the Connecticut Sun. However, it was reported on August 20 that Clark also suffered a minor bone bruise in her ankle earlier this month, before the Fever's August 7 game.

While there are conflicting reports about whether this minor ankle injury slowed Clark's recovery down, there's no doubt that it didn't help matters.

One aspect of ESPN's WNBA website is that in the preview to every WNBA game, they list a comprehensive injury report that includes each player who is injured, what their injury is, and what their estimated return date is.

Just five days ago, ESPN had Clark's estimated return date set to August 26. Now, when one looks at the ESPN preview for tomorrow's Lynx vs. Fever game, Clark's estimated return date has been pushed back to September 2.

The Fever face the Phoenix Mercury on the road on September 2, which marks the final game of a three-game road trip along the West Coast for Indiana. Frankly, it's hard to imagine Clark would make her return at that point in a road trip, especially because Indiana plays at home against the Chicago Sky three days later.

Regardless, fans will surely be holding out hope that this ESPN estimation is accurate.

This article first appeared on Women's Fastbreak on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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