Sports commentator Skip Bayless placed high hopes on Fever star Caitlin Clark. He argued that if she hadn’t missed almost the entire WNBA season, Indiana might have won the league. That’s the opinion he shares with other analysts, including the ESPN2 First Take host.
Even without Clark, the Fever reached the second round of the playoffs. Still, many believe the franchise’s performance could have been different with their All-Star guard. Groin injuries have kept Clark off the court, leaving no path for a return this season.
The harsh reality of Clark’s injury
According to Firstsportz, the current CBA rules prevent players from rejoining once placed on the season-ending injury list. Even if Clark were healthy enough, she couldn’t play in the playoffs. She can only keep practicing limited shooting and movements allowed by her condition.
If only Caitlin had played in that fourth quarter. It would’ve been very different.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) September 27, 2025
For Bayless, the Game 3 playoff loss to the Las Vegas Aces came down to Clark’s absence. On his official X account, he wrote: “If only Caitlin had played in that last quarter. It would have been very different.”
In his view, if the 23-year-old guard had played the final 15 minutes, the Fever would have had a real shot at beating the Aces and taking the lead in the series. The team desperately needed the spark Clark brings. With her on the floor, the Aces’ defense would have struggled to contain Indiana. Her passing ability could have created the separation needed to score more points.
Despite all the expectations, Clark must remain sidelined while recovering from her groin injury. Frustrating as it may be, she can only watch her team for now. In the offseason, she will need to prepare physically to return stronger and continue breaking records with the Fever.
