Jul 22, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) walks onto the court prior to the game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

'Their Golden Goose, Caitlin, Is Ailing': Caitlin Clark’s Injury Woes Is Bigger Concern Than WNBA ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’ Protest, Says Skip Bayless

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 8:02 AM ET

Skip Bayless didn’t mince words when calling out WNBA veterans for how they’ve handled Caitlin Clark’s rise. Despite bringing new eyes and massive crowds to the league, Bayless thinks some players aren’t giving her the credit she deserves.

On his Thursday show , Bayless singled out players like Kelsey Plum, who made subtle jabs at Clark during All-Star Weekend.

“This league has now so many veteran divas that nobody ever watched before Caitlin Clark arrived,” Bayless said. “These veteran divas are now so full of themselves because they’ve actually deluded themselves into believing they’re at least as big a draws as Caitlin has become.”

He added, “What they all should be most worried about right now is that their golden goose, Caitlin, is ailing… The leading vote-getter in the All-Star Game is, cold hard truth, having a terrible season so far.”

Clark is currently sidelined with a leg injury, and it’s unclear when she’ll be back. She’s also in the middle of a rough shooting stretch, hitting just 27.9% from deep—ranking 56th out of 57 qualified players.

Jul 22, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) signs autographs prior to the game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Bayless said the league’s focus shouldn’t be on in-fighting or image but on helping Clark recover—physically and mentally. If not, he warned, the league could slide back to the days when hardly anyone was paying attention.

Caitlin Clark’s Status Remains Day-to-Day

On Thursday, the Indiana Fever shared an official update on Caitlin Clark’s condition.

The team said she went through additional medical testing this week, and no new injuries were found. Clark is continuing rehab with the Fever’s medical team, prioritizing long-term health.

Jul 22, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (not in uniform) celebrates from the bench in the first quarter against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

No return date has been given, but the Fever say they’re optimistic and will share more when available.

Clark’s presence has been huge for the WNBA, with rising ratings and sold-out arenas following her debut. And if Bayless is right, the league’s future might depend on how well it takes care of its brightest star.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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