Lisa Leslie, former Los Angeles Sparks star, expressed concern over Caitlin Clark’s current condition, the Indiana Fever standout. Recently, Leslie made a surprising and discouraging statement for Clark’s fans.
In 2006, the two-time WNBA champion suffered a groin injury she never fully recovered from. Her biggest fear? That Caitlin might be facing the same situation, which is unfavorable for her professional career.
A déjà vu for Leslie
According to Essentiallysports, Leslie feels Caitlin Clark could be going through the same health struggle she faced 19 years ago. On July 16, she shared her thoughts on CBS Sports’ We Need To Talk.
“I really feel for Caitlin Clark because I actually had that injury in 2006. And listen, it was tightly wrapped around my thigh and glute. I just tried to make sure there was enough pressure to support that groin. The hard part is that the groin is an area you can’t just touch and say, ‘Oh, it hurts here.’ You feel it deep. You need a lot of deep treatment, whether ice, heat, or rest,” the former WNBA player explained.
“I can still feel that injury linger because I don’t know that it ever goes away, you just learn to manage and play with it.”
Lisa Leslie reacts to Caitlin Clark’s groin injury after experiencing the same injury herself. pic.twitter.com/w8GxzNUAfo— We Need To Talk (@WeNeedToTalk) July 16, 2025
Leslie shared the frustration that comes with such an injury. “Well, Caitlin Clark can’t find much rest right now because she’s mid-season. I think that injury is really tough because it persists. No matter how much medicine you take, you might feel okay. You can go back out. But one movement, a change of direction, and boom! You feel the same pain again. This is going to be a tough injury to manage.”
When Tracy Wolfson asked about the recovery process, Leslie’s response stunned everyone: “To be honest, Tracy, I play tennis and I still feel the injury because I don’t know if it ever really goes away. You just learn to manage it and play with it. That might also explain why her numbers have dropped. Listen, the logo shoots the longest distances consistently in the WNBA, and that will take away her lift, whether she’s shooting a three-pointer or even farther. I remember struggling all season in 2006 with that injury.”
Despite her injury and Leslie’s grim prediction, Caitlin Clark is expected to find relief in her groin and continue contributing her talent to the Indiana Fever. Her teammates need her, as she has already missed 21 regular-season games. Without a doubt, they need Clark’s skill to make it to the playoffs.
