CAITLIN Clark has been sidelined for ages due to injury, and she is starting to get antsy.
The Indiana Fever superstar says she feels a “responsibility” to get back on the court to grow the game.
Clark has played just 13 games in her second WNBA season, and the games she did play weren’t her best.
Because of those factors, she is feeling a bit of pressure to get back on the court.
Not just for her and the Fever’s sake, but for the sake of the entire league.
“It’s hard, because obviously I do feel this responsibility of being out there and playing,” Clark told Sue Bird on the Bird’s Eye View podcast.
Clark also said that she believes the WNBA’s growth won’t come to a halt because she’s been off the court.
However, she wants to play in order to give the fans more to cheer for.
“And not that I think there’s a fear of any of this going away. That doesn’t happen when like, LeBron or Steph get hurt. [Fans] are always going to be there,” Clark said.
“But you do want to play, you want to give people something to cheer about or scream about.
“People spend so much time, and money, and resources to come and watch you play.
“And it’s been cool to see people continue to show up for my teammates, whether they’re fans of the Fever just fans of myself, they’re continuing to show up and support.”
The Fever’s TV viewership is still going strong despite Clark being off the court.
Fans are also still packing WNBA arenas to see the Fever play when Clark is on the bench.
Because of that loyalty, Clark has spent extra time engaging with fans before and after games.
Despite putting in that effort, Clark knows fans would be even happier if she was on the court.
Still, Clark won’t rush back from this injury and is going to make sure she is 100 percent before returning to play.
“Early on with the first couple injuries, I was like, ‘I need to get back,'” she said.
“But I think my mom texted after this last injury, and they know how hard it’s been on me, but my mom was like, ‘You’ve taken so much time for everybody else, you have to take time for yourself now.’
“So I’m just trying to do that the best I can, too.”