Caitlin Clark says she's 'the best' she's ever felt as Fever star hits stride
Iowa native Caitlin Clark says she is playing the best basketball of her WNBA career, a welcome development for Indiana Fever fans and a sign that the former Hawkeye superstar has finally put her injury woes behind her.
Clark made the comments after dropping 34 points in the Fever's win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday, a performance that also made her the first player in WNBA history to record 30-plus points and 10 or more assists in consecutive games.
“I mean, I feel really good. I feel probably the best I've ever felt in my career and from like a confidence standpoint, too,” Clark said.
What has held Clark back in recent seasons?
The road back to peak form has not been easy. Clark played just 13 games in 2025 while dealing with a series of injuries. She then opened the 2026 season battling a lingering back issue that the Fever staff worked to manage throughout the early part of the schedule.
As a result, the three-time WNBA All-Star has played only 89 career games, a fact that Clark says is often overlooked by fans and analysts who expect her to dominate every night.
“Obviously your rookie year is a different kind of beast when you're trying to figure out the league and figure out where you fit on a team and still do the things that you can do. And then obviously lost my second year, so this is really only my second year in this league. I've only played maybe 80-plus games in this league,” Clark explained.
How has Clark's game improved this season?
Clark's numbers back up her confidence. She is averaging career-highs in points (22.5), field goal percentage (45.6%) and three-point percentage (37.3%) across 36 games this season.
“I feel like at times that can be a little lost to everybody on the outside world. I think you feel like I've been in this league for a while. I'm still kind of finding my footing and still remembering what I can do and who I am and what I can bring to this team and just having that confidence about me and allowing that to be impactful to the rest of my team,” Clark said.
Clark admitted the first 20 games of the season were a mental battle as she worked to trust her body again after the back injury.
“Now, I feel like I'm just playing. I'm not thinking. I'm just like, 'Next play, next play, next play.' And that's when I play my best basketball,” she said.
What's next for Clark and the Fever?
The WNBA season is currently paused while Clark represents Team USA at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany. The United States opens tournament play Friday at 7:15 a.m. CT against China.
Once the World Cup concludes, the Fever (26-14) will have just four games remaining in the regular season. Indiana resumes play Friday, Sept. 18 against the Toronto Tempo (11-29) at Coca-Cola Coliseum, with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on Ion.
For Iowa fans who followed Clark's record-breaking career at Iowa State rival Iowa, watching her return to full health and elite form has been a rewarding storyline. The Fever appear poised for a deep playoff run, and Clark's renewed confidence could be the difference-maker.