Despite the Fever’s Management, Caitlin Clark Is Making an MVP Case

After a slow start off the block for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA‘s 30th season, Caitlin Clark‘s MVP-caliber play has recently vaulted the team up the Eastern Conference standings. The Fever began the season with a 1-2 record (both of their losses coming at home), but quickly corrected course and finished their recent homestand with three straight wins.

Six games into the season, they currently sit at 4-2, good enough for a second-place seat in the Eastern Conference.

Health and Team USA

As Fever fans well know, Caitlin Clark has taken a beating in her first pair of seasons in the WNBA. This has been well documented and resulted in her second season being derailed due to a multitude of injuries. Indiana felt her absence in a large way last year, with their 2025 playoff run ending in the semifinals after a brutal 107-98 loss to the Las Vegas Aces in overtime of Game 5. Clark was not able to play, as her season ended in July due to a recurring back issue — among other ailments.

Clark returned to live game play (after a nearly eight-month absence) in March to make her debut for Team USA’s Senior National Team. She does have experience playing on younger USA rosters, when she did so at age 17, playing for the USA’s Junior National Team. Clark helped represent the USA in international competition during the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Women’s World Cup, where she helped lead the team to a gold medal.

Moving forward, Clark has bigger goals in mind relating to Team USA. There was an uproar when she didn’t make the 2024 Paris Olympic team. She now eyes playing on the World Cup team next fall and then in Los Angeles on the 2028 Olympic squad.

“There’s a lot to get to that point,” Clark said. “Obviously, that’s my goal, the World Cup before that. There’s a lot for me to learn.”

The Fever’s Injury Management Gaffes

With Caitlin Clark’s injury history in mind, the Fever have been under a microscope early in the 2026 season. Fever fans and casual WNBA fans alike have already taken issue with the organization’s management of her continual back issues this season. As early as the first game of this season, Clark’s back was a talking point, as she left the court multiple times to have it adjusted. At the time, she explained her back “gets out of line pretty quickly.”

Before the Fever’s home game versus the newly reestablished Portland Fire on May 20, the team put out an injury status report the day before the matchup — which showed no injuries. Gameday came, and Clark woke up with “back-stiffness” according to her. This isn’t abnormal, but the controversy arose when the Fever submitted an injury report status update approximately 90 minutes before gametime. This update stated that Clark would be out and would not be active.

Tony East, Fever beat reporter for Forbes SportsMoney and Circle City Spin, asked Caitlin what had transpired and who made the final call at their pregame press availability. “At the end of the day, it’s me and my confidence,” Clark said. 

For this last-second injury update, the Fever were the subject of an investigation by the WNBA for a violation of their injury-reporting rules. Ultimately, they received no fine, but did receive a warning from the league; something to keep a keen eye on as the season progresses.

The Early and Continued Records

As Caitlin Clark has helped the Fever shoot up the Eastern Conference standings, her play has been nothing short of MVP caliber. On May 9, during their first game of the regular season versus the Dallas Wings, Clark eclipsed the 1,000-point scoring mark for her career.

Then, on May 17, the Fever had been notified of a stat correction from the May 15 home loss to the Washington Mystics. This correction officially gave Clark a tenth assist in the game, which concurrently made her the first player in WNBA history to record multiple games of 30+ points and 10+ assists.

Simultaneously, during the game that same night versus the Seattle Storm, Clark set ANOTHER new WNBA record. She now holds the record for most career games with 20+ points & 10+ assists.

Her scoring and passing versatility is unlike anything the league has seen before. Through the first five games of this season, she has averaged 23.8 points (No. 3 in WNBA), 9.0 assists (No. 1 in WNBA), 4.4 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. She can score from every level, which is not a commonality.

The Off-Court Happenings

In addition to her elite on-court versatility, Caitlin Clark, per usual, is making headlines off the court as well. She just recently announced the future release of her first-authored children’s picture book. She also served as Gainbridge℠ Ambassador & Grand Marshal at the world-renowned Indianapolis 500. 

What’s Next for Caitlin Clark?

As far as Caitlin is concerned, if she continues on this pace, there’s no doubt she will be in the MVP conversation by season’s end. And as long as she continues to exercise her one-of-one range, the sky is the limit for her. 

The Fever will be on the road for their next two games before returning home to begin competition in the Commissioner’s Cup. You can find the full, remaining schedule here.