Caitlin Clark Returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse as Fever Host Wings in Preseason

Key facts

• Caitlin Clark recorded 7 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds in 17 minutes in her first game since July 2025.
• The Fever defeated the New York Liberty 109-91 on April 25 in their preseason opener.
• Clark missed the remainder of the 2025 season after straining her right groin on July 15 against the Connecticut Sun.
• Indiana went 3-1 against the Wings during the 2025 regular season.
• Dallas selected UConn guard Azzi Fudd with the first pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
• Fudd reunites with former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers, the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year.
• Tipoff is at 6 p.m. CT on April 30 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, broadcast on ION and WNBA League Pass.
• Tickets for the Fever's home preseason games start at $12.

Clark’s Return to Competitive Play

Caitlin Clark will step onto the Gainbridge Fieldhouse court on Thursday evening for the first time in a Fever uniform since July 2025. The former Iowa star played 17 minutes in Indiana’s preseason opener against the New York Liberty on April 25, tallying 7 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds in a 109-91 victory. That game marked Clark’s return to competitive basketball after a groin strain sidelined her for more than a month. She had not played since July 15, when she injured her right groin in Boston against the Connecticut Sun. The Fever officially ruled her out for the remainder of the regular season and the postseason on September 4. Clark averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5 rebounds and 1.6 steals across 13 games in the 2025 season before the injury. The groin strain was the fourth separate muscle injury she endured that year, a stark contrast to her college career and WNBA Rookie of the Year campaign, during which she did not miss a single game.

Fever’s Preseason Schedule and Venue

The Fever’s preseason continues with two home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Thursday’s matchup against the Dallas Wings tips off at 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ION and WNBA League Pass. A second preseason game follows on Saturday, May 2, against the Nigeria Women’s National Team, also at 6 p.m. CT, available only on WNBA League Pass. Tickets for both games are on sale at FeverBasketball.com/tickets, with prices starting at $12. The team opened its preseason with a convincing win over the Liberty, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the exhibition schedule.

Dallas Wings’ Draft Prize and Reunion

The Dallas Wings arrive in Indianapolis fresh off selecting UConn guard Azzi Fudd with the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft earlier this month. Fudd will reunite in the professional ranks with former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers, who was named the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Indiana went 3-1 against the Wings during the 2025 regular season, a record that will test Dallas’s retooled roster. The Wings’ draft choice signals a long-term investment in guard talent, pairing Fudd’s shooting with Bueckers’ playmaking.

Clark’s Injury History and Recovery

Clark returned to competitive basketball with Team USA in March, her first game action since the groin strain on July 15. The injury marked the fourth separate muscle issue she sustained during the 2025 season, a sharp departure from her durability in college and her rookie year. After being sidelined for more than a month, the Fever made the decision on September 4 to shut her down for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs. In 13 games, Clark had been averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5 rebounds and 1.6 steals, numbers that underscored her value to the team. Her return to full health is a central storyline for Indiana as it prepares for the 2026 season. The preseason games offer a chance to test her conditioning and integration with the roster.

Stakes for the Fever and the WNBA Landscape

The Fever’s preseason performance carries implications beyond exhibition results. Clark’s health and form will be closely watched after an injury-marred 2025 campaign. Her ability to regain her rookie-season level could reshape the Eastern Conference standings. Dallas, meanwhile, is building around a young core headlined by Bueckers and Fudd. The Wings’ 3-1 record against Indiana last season suggests a competitive matchup, even in preseason. The game also offers an early look at how Fudd’s game translates to the professional level alongside her former college teammate. For fans, the return of Clark to Gainbridge Fieldhouse marks a symbolic moment — a chance to see one of the league’s most dynamic players back in action after a prolonged absence.

The bottom line

• Caitlin Clark returned to preseason play on April 25 after a groin strain ended her 2025 season in July.
• Clark recorded 7 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds in 17 minutes in the Fever’s 109-91 win over the Liberty.
• The Fever host the Dallas Wings on April 30 and the Nigeria Women’s National Team on May 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
• Dallas drafted Azzi Fudd first overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, reuniting her with Paige Bueckers.
• Indiana went 3-1 against the Wings during the 2025 regular season.
• Clark’s health and performance in preseason will be a key factor for the Fever’s 2026 campaign.