The silence was deafening for months. Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s brightest star, had been battling a groin injury behind closed doors, rehabbing relentlessly with hope of returning to the court. On September 4, that hope officially ended with an emotional Instagram post that confirmed what fans feared most: her 2024-25 season is over.

But in the heartbreak, a beautiful moment emerged. Among the flood of supportive comments, one stood out from Iowa teammate Jada Gyamfi. A friendship that stretches back to elementary school now offers comfort in Clark’s difficult professional moment.

What Did Caitlin Clark Reveal About Her Season-Ending Injury?

Clark broke her silence with devastating honesty in an Instagram post on September 4, confirming multiple reports about her season-ending right groin injury. The Indiana Fever superstar suffered the initial injury on July 15 against Connecticut, courageously playing through pain in the final minute before medical staff shut her down.

“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” Clark wrote in her post. “I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling.”

The injury became a nightmare scenario during rehabilitation when Clark also developed a bone bruise on her left ankle. This secondary setback ultimately forced the difficult decision to prioritize long-term health over any potential late-season return, ending her sophomore campaign at just 13 games.

Her former Iowa teammate Jada Gyamfi quickly showed support, commenting on the post, “Love you honey!! Come back season soon” with a heart emoji.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. After the July injury, Clark missed the WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis and all subsequent contests. Through 13 games in the 2024-25 season, she had been putting up stellar numbers with 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game before the setback prematurely ended her year two in the WNBA.

How Close Are Clark and Jada Gyamfi?

Their bond runs deeper than basketball, stretching back to elementary school when fate first connected their paths. Gyamfi revealed on her “Fresh Tawk” podcast that her sister and Clark played against each other in AAU tournaments, creating an early connection that would eventually bring them together at Iowa.

The friendship became so meaningful that Gyamfi partly committed to Iowa specifically because she wanted to play alongside Clark. That decision paid off beautifully as the two became teammates for two historic seasons during Iowa’s back-to-back national championship game runs in 2023 and 2024.

While Clark starred as Iowa’s record-setting scorer and national player of the year, Gyamfi provided crucial frontcourt depth and veteran leadership in the rotation. But their connection went far beyond their roles on the court.

The depth of their friendship became evident in an interview after Clark left for the WNBA, when Gyamfi opened up about losing her closest friend and teammate. The emotion in her words revealed just how much Clark meant beyond basketball.

“She was probably responsible for like 90% of our points, whether it was scoring or passing the ball,” Gyamfi said about Clark. “But on a personal level, that’s one of my closest friends. I just miss seeing her every day. We would stretch next to each other every day and just catch up on each other’s lives.”

Now, as Clark faces the disappointment of a season cut short, that same friendship provides comfort. With such support from close friends like Gyamfi and others, Clark will focus on returning healthy for her third professional season.