Caitlin Clark Reflects on Painful Injury During Historic WNBA Rookie Season

The Indiana Fever star ruptured her eardrum in a June game against the New York Liberty, marking her 'welcome to the WNBA' moment.

Caitlin Clark revealed on the 'New Heights' podcast that she ruptured her eardrum during a game against the New York Liberty on June 2, 2024.
The injury occurred after she collided with a hard screen set by Liberty star Jonquel Jones, who later won Finals MVP that season.
Clark described the injury as painful and noted it took months to heal, though she avoided surgery and did not miss any games.
Despite the setback, Clark had a stellar rookie season, earning WNBA Rookie of the Year honors and leading the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
The injury highlighted the physicality of the league, which continues to be a focus of discussion around officiating and player safety.