Caitlin Clark Drops a Hint About Her Return to the Court

The WNBA season doesn't tip off for another six months. But Caitlin Clark is hoping to be back on the basketball court much sooner than that!

The Indiana Fever's season ended in the playoffs with a loss to the league's eventual champion, the Las Vegas Aces. Clark was out of the Fever lineup since the All-Star break, and fans are wondering when the former Iowa star will be healthy enough to return to the court.

When Will Caitlin Clark Return to the Court?

In her exit interview after the conclusion of the WNBA season, Clark dropped a hint about when that return might be. The Des Moines Register reports that Clark stated that she wanted to play for Team USA during the 2026 FIBA World Cup. The Register reports that Clark called USA Basketball "my top priority right now that I need to prepare for, and I think that will help me prepare for next season, too."

When is the FIBA World Cup?

The Register reports that the training camp for USA Basketball is in early March, with the qualifying tournament running from March 11 to 17, 2026. The 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup will run from September 4 to 13, 2026, in Berlin. Clark will be highly motivated to play for Team USA after being left off the 2024 U.S. Olympic team.

Could Clark Play Hoops This Summer in a Different League?

Now this is interesting. Could Caitlin Clark hoop it up in Unrivaled or Athletes Unlimited? The Register reports that Clark hasn't confirmed or denied if she plans to play in these leagues prior to the WNBA season, only stating in her exit interview that she would "explore every opportunity." Maybe her former Hawkeye teammate Kate Martin, who is playing in Unrivaled for the second straight season, can convince her!

Stay tuned!