ESPN Broadcast Notes Potential Caitlin Clark Fever Return Timeline

ESPN's Ryan Ruocco shared interesting comments about when Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark could be returning from injury.

Aug 7, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Indiana Fever injured guard Caitlin Clark in attendance against the Phoenix Mercury during an WNBA game at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Another Indiana Fever game has come and gone without star guard Caitlin Clark on the court, as she missed her 11th straight game (12th straight, if you include the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, which took place on her home court) against the Dallas Wings on August 12.

If there was any question about how badly the Fever need Clark back running their offense, Tuesday's loss served as indisputable proof. Not only is Clark an extraordinary playmaker for her teammates, but Indiana's having lost both Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson to season-ending injuries only exacerbates the Fever's need for a healthy point guard.

The Fever's coaching and training staff haven't offered any clear updates about when No. 22 will be returning to the court. The general belief is that she's likely to make her comeback at some point in August, but that doesn't narrow it down all that much (at least in the eyes of fans who have been clamoring for her recovery).

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's Comments on Caitlin Clark Injury Recovery Timeline

Indiana's August 12 game against Dallas was broadcast on ESPN. And at one point in the show, play-by-play man Ryan Ruocco shared an interesting message about No. 22's return timeline.

"Indiana will play Washington on Friday at home, and at Connecticut — who has the worst record in the league — on Sunday. Then they have a week off before playing Minnesota twice, home [against] Seattle. You see the way their schedule finishes up there, their final regular season game we'll have live on our air September 9th," Ruocco said.

"Now, that stretch where they have the week off is where Stephanie White reiterated to us today, she's hoping Caitlin Clark returns to practice," he added. "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.

"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," Ruocco concluded of Clark.

Ryan Ruocco talking about Caitlin Clark’s injury recovery timeline during ESPN’s Fever vs Wings broadcast last night

He said August 22, 24, and 26 are all “potential return” games for CC pic.twitter.com/88ikpSgw2F

— Grant Young (@GrvntYoung) August 13, 2025

Given these comments, it seems that White and the Fever's training staff seem to have a pretty clear timeline on when Clark could be returning to the court.

Of course, everything will depend on how No. 22 is feeling once she returns to practice, but a return at some point in late August seems like the most likely scenario.