The 2025 season wasn’t the one Caitlin Clark was hoping for.
Fresh off winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2024, Clark could never find her rhythm last season. A multitude of different injuries limited the former Iowa superstar guard to just 13 games in 2025. She saw her shooting efficiency suffer as a result of the injuries, and she wasn’t available for the Indiana Fever‘s surprise run in the WNBA Playoffs.
Despite that playoff run last season, the organization understands that they need Clark at her very best to win a championship. Getting Clark to September in good health and in good shape will be key. At the Fever’s media day on Wednesday, Clark and head coach Stephanie White revealed their plan to do just that: having multiple players bring the ball up the court.
“It is exhausting, bringing the ball up 94 feet versus pressure every single time,” Clark said bluntly on Wednesday. “So, we certainly need to find somebody that can handle the ball a little bit and give me a little bit of a break.”
Clark is one of the best players in the WNBA with the ball in her hand. She’s extremely dangerous in transition and can dish out assists better than anyone. Taking the ball out of her hands may seem counterintuitive, but it will keep Clark fresher throughout the long season.
As she mentioned, constantly bringing the ball up the court can weigh on a player, both physically and mentally. The Fever need to prevent that from happening to Clark, so finding more primary ball handlers is key. Indiana head coach Stephanie White spoke more about some of her team’s options to do that.
“She [Raven Johnson] can alleviate some pressure with Caitlin having to bring the ball [up],” White said. “Look at the way the teams play her, 94 feet all the time. Again, how do we find ways to rest her on the floor? It’s having somebody else bring the ball up, initiate offense, and then get Caitlin into action, in the second or third action, or the second or third side.”
Johnson, the team’s first-round pick out of South Carolina, brought the ball up a ton in college. She would be a seamless fit to help take some of the brunt off of Clark. Star guard Kelsey Mitchell can also help with that from time to time.
If the Fever want to achieve their goals in 2026, they need Clark to be at her best late in the season. Having a plan to do just that before the season even starts is a great sign of good things to come for this team.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Indiana Fever reveal plan to keep Caitlin Clark fresh this season