The 2025 WNBA season has been a big let-down for the Caitlin Clark fans. After the way she ended her rookie year, we were all waiting for an explosive sophomore season. However, until now, all we’ve seen are injuries and shooting slumps. But in this brutal 2025 season, she’s not the only superstar struggling with injuries. We have already seen Breanna Stewart, Kayla Thornton, and Napheesa Collier miss extended time with injuries. And now, Caitlin Clark’s biggest rival, Angel Reese, is also missing from action.
But while injuries are a part of the deal, in the case of Caitlin Clark, part of the blame may lie with the franchise. After her latest injury against the Connecticut Sun, many criticised coach Stephanie White for even having Caitlin Clark on the floor during garbage time. While the coach did catch some flak for having their star player on court in garbage time, a deeper study revealed that the main share of blame may lie with the franchise. Now that her biggest rival, Angel Reese, is also struggling with injuries, WNBA analysts have shot a warning to her.
Ever since the WNBA season resumed after the All-Star break, Angel Reese has been playing through a back injury. After missing a game or two here and there, Reese has now missed 5 consecutive games. Dealing with a niggling back injury, her status remains day-to-day, yet her return timeline remains up in the air. With teams trying hard to make the playoffs push, WNBA analyst Sabreena Merchant has warned Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky to avoid a situation like Caitlin Clark’s.
Talking on a recent episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show podcast, they discussed the scenario regarding Reese and Sky. When asked about any updates for Angel Reese, Sabreena Merchant said, “Angel Reese, this is your long-term future. You’ve got to be careful. Especially after seeing what we saw with Caitlin Clark having repeated muscle injuries in the same sort of area, I would imagine they’re going to be as judicious as possible with Angel in this upcoming stretch.”
Sabreena Merchant also said that while the Chicago Sky’s draft pick situation may tempt them to rush Angel Reese back, they should avoid it. The Chicago Sky’s 2026 first-round pick belongs with the Minnesota Lynx. However, with the Sky still having a first-round pick from the Phoenix Mercury and swap rights with the Connecticut Sun, they still have a lot of draft flexibility in the 2026 WNBA draft.
Taking a lesson from Caitlin Clark’s example, the Chicago Sky should be very careful with Angel Reese. Rushing Caitlin Clark without proper recovery could have been disastrous for the Indiana Fever if not for Kelsey Mitchell leading them to a franchise record streak. With head coach Stephanie White publicly admitting to mishandling Caitlin Clark’s injury, the Chicago Sky organisation needs to avoid this situation lest it face the fury of a passionate fan base.
Kelsey Mitchell Continues Her Career-Best Season as Indiana Fever Rolls Over Chicago Sky
Caitlin Clark’s right groin injury had the potential to ruin the Indiana Fever’s season. Already sitting in a precarious situation with a near .500 record. With teams in the middle of the league table bunched up, there was a risk of missing the playoffs altogether. However, in her absence, the Indiana Fever found a new leader in Kelsey Mitchell.
After weeks of speculation that she might sign somewhere else, Kelsey Mitchell re-signed with the Indiana Fever to shut all the rumours down. After coming back to Fever, there were big hopes for Kelsey Mitchell to have a big season. However, after Caitlin Clark’s injuries, her role was switched from a secondary scorer to the primary one. But, through it all, Kelsey Mitchell has responded.
Jun 30, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) against the Phoenix Mercury during a WNBA game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
In their recent game against the Chicago Sky, she had her 17th 20-point game of the season. Led by her 26-point performance, the Indiana Fever handled the Sky to a 22-point loss. This win comes at a crucial time for the Indiana Fever. With two more season-ending injuries in their game against the Phoenix Mercury, they are now without a natural point guard for the foreseeable future.
During this time, the Indiana Fever needs to have Kelsey perform at this high level. Until Caitlin Clark is back, she will be required to play a slightly different role. However, if the game against the Sky is any indication, we’d say that she is up for yet another challenge.
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