Caitlin Clark Announces Mindset Change Before Third WNBA Season

Caitlin Clark is entering her third WNBA season. It's a big one.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft led the Indiana Fever to a playoff appearance during her rookie year. However, Year 2 was muddled with injuries. Clark ended up having to miss the second half of her sophomore season.

"I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn't a big enough word to describe how I am feeling," Clark wrote in the post last September . "I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty. This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective."

Heading into Year 3, Clark is shifting her mindset.

Clark announced this week that, while she still wants to dominate every rep, she's being more careful.

The former Iowa Hawkeyes star needs to prioritize her health and longterm availability over everything else.

"I'm a person that doesn't want to sit out a single rep," she told reporters.

"None of that has changed, but just being a little smarter with my body."

Clark is taking it slow - and will not be pushing herself as hard - as she enters Year 3 this spring.

Clark is adamant that she is 100 percent healthy - but she needs to stay that way throughout the 2026 season.

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This story was originally published April 19, 2026 at 4:16 PM.