Caitlin Clark knows the spotlight never dims. As the WNBA's most recognizable star entering her third season, even the smallest detail of her game-day routine becomes headline news. So when the Indiana Fever point guard showed up to practice this week wearing a compression sleeve on her left leg, fans and reporters alike took notice.
The concern is understandable. Clark gave everyone a scare during a preseason game against the Dallas Wings on April 30, when she left early in the third quarter with a leg injury. She quickly assured everyone she was fine, but the memory of her injury-plagued 2025 season lingers. After playing all 40 regular-season games as a rookie, Clark appeared in just 13 of 44 contests last year due to groin and ankle issues. Her shooting suffered too, with her three-point percentage dropping from 34.4% to 27.9%.
So when beat reporters gathered for Clark's press availability Tuesday—just four days before the Fever's regular season opener—the leg sleeve was the first topic of conversation.
"I knew that would be the first question," Clark laughed, according to Indy Star reporter Chloe Peterson. "Just a little compression on the leg. I mean, I don't know."
Fever head coach Stephanie White was even more casual about the accessory. "It's a style thing," White said with a smile. "It looks good on her, doesn't it?"
Despite last season's injury challenges, Clark still averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. More importantly, she helped lead the Fever to the WNBA semifinals, where they fell to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces. Now, with a new collective bargaining agreement boosting her salary to $528,846 (up from about $78,000 in 2025), Clark is poised for a bounce-back season.
She scored 12 points in Saturday's preseason finale against Nigeria but sat out the second half as a precaution. Clark and the Fever will tip off the regular season against the Dallas Wings at 1 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC, Disney+, and the ESPN app. If the leg sleeve makes an appearance, you can bet someone will be asking about it again.