Caitlin Clark shows true colours with treatment of WNBA veteran | NBA | Sport

Aerial Powers expressed gratitude to Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark for making her “feel welcome” during her brief stint with the franchise. Clark endured a nightmare second season plagued by injury setbacks.

After an outstanding debut campaign that earned her the Rookie of the Year accolade in 2024, Clark’s 2025 WNBA campaign was largely spent watching from the sidelines as the Fever were ravaged by injuries throughout their squad. The 23-year-old missed substantial periods due to quad and groin problems, while the Fever also lost other crucial stars including Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald to season-ending setbacks. Clark concluded the campaign averaging 16.5 points per game alongside a remarkable 8.8 assists.

With the sheer volume of injuries plaguing the Fever throughout the 2025 season, the team were forced to recruit numerous players on temporary deals to bolster their depleted roster. Powers, a 10-year WNBA veteran, was among the players brought in.

The experienced player initially penned a seven-day hardship deal with the Fever in August, though her contract was prolonged until the campaign’s conclusion due to ongoing injury concerns.

The 31-year-old featured in eight regular season matches for Indiana, posting averages of 9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per outing.

Powers is known for her vibrant character and maintains an active vlog presence. In a recent video blog entry, she conducted interviews with her Fever colleagues ahead of the off-season break, during which players reflected on the campaign’s challenges.

One of those players was Clark, with Powers highlighting the challenges the Fever faced during her absence.

When questioned about whether she was taken aback by their progression to the semi-finals, the two-time All-Star guard remarked: “I don’t think anything necessarily surprised me just because I know the type of people that we’ve had in the locker room over the two years.

“And obviously there was some changeover from year one to year two, but the core of this group and what this organisation is about has always been the same and I think that’s what made it so easy for players like you or whoever we brought in over the course of the season.

“They instantly felt welcomed, they loved it, they had a really good time, and I feel like that’s been about every player’s experience with this organisation, so every player who has come in – you especially – has made it so fun. We’ve loved having you.”

After their discussion, Powers ensured she expressed her gratitude towards Clark as she declared: “I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for making me feel welcome.”

Indiana concluded the campaign with 16 players on their books, though only Clark, Aliyah Boston and Makayla Timpson remain tied down for the 2026 season.

While additional familiar faces could yet make their return, the Fever are poised to reconstruct their squad ahead of 2026 as they pursue their first WNBA title since 2012.