Fever Coach Laments 'Frustrating' Reality of Caitlin Clark Ankle Injury

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White got honest about the ankle injury Caitlin Clark suffered earlier this month, which had gone unreported.

May 4, 2025; Iowa City, IA, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on with head coach Stephanie White during the third quarter against the Brazil National Team at Carver-Haweye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

On August 20, Indiana Fever beat reporters Scott Agness and Chloe Peterson both released reports revealing that superstar guard Caitlin Clark suffered a minor injury this month that had not been disclosed previously.

Both Agness and Peterson noted that Clark suffered a mild bone bruise in her ankle during shootaround before the Fever's August 7 game against the Phoenix Mercury. However, these two differed regarding their reporting on whether this injury impacted when Clark (who is still on the mend from a groin injury she suffered on July 15) would be returning to the court.

Scott Agness was adamant that this injury did impact Clark's return timeline, while Peterson said the opposite. Peterson followed this up with a statement from a Fever spokesperson that read, "There was no timeline or projected return to play so it's impossible to say if it was impacted. So it remains the same: to give Caitlin as much time needed to ensure she comes back fully healthy, which everyday she is working hard to do."

Statement from Fever spokesperson regarding Caitlin Clark’s status after suffering a bone bruise in her left ankle: pic.twitter.com/BfJdLCBZAy

— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) August 20, 2025

Despite this statement (which seems to be intentionally vague), many are having a hard time accepting that this ankle ailment didn't slow down her return timeline.

Stephanie White Speaks on Caitlin Clark Ankle Injury

Fever head coach Stephanie White spoke with the media after her team's August 21 practice. And she sent a strong message when asked about Clark's ankle injury.

"It's been really frustrating," White said of the string of injury issues Clark has dealt with this year, per a YouTube video from Tony East. "I mean, Caitlin wants to play. She's a competitor; she just wants to be on the floor. She just wants to play basketball. And she's in the mindset that she's hungry. She just wants to be out there, and she just wants to be with her team, and she's working her butt off to get back in those situations."

Aug 7, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Indiana Fever injured guard Caitlin Clark (right) with head coach Stephanie White against the Phoenix Mercury during an WNBA game at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

White then added, "I think each time you have a tweak, or each time you have something else, it's frustrating. But it's kind of the nature of the business. When you are an athlete, you're gonna have some of these injuries. This is really the first time in her career that she has had this string of bad luck, so to speak, if that's what you want to call it.

"So I think, number one, it's an opportunity to grow and to understand big picture... Because it's mentally, and emotionally, as draining as it is physically," White concluded.

White isn't alone in feeling frustrated about what Clark has had to endure this season.