May 24, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to the action during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has been out for an extended period of time as she nurses a groin injury. However, one prominent member of the sports media landscape isn’t convinced that everything surrounding Clark’s injury checks out.

“Is it possible that this time, she tore her groin so badly that she’s already been privately ruled out for the rest of the season, yet the league wants to keep the media and the fans in the dark about this so that people keep tuning in, figuring, ‘Oh, she’ll be back soon,’” Bayless suggested on his podcast, The Skip Bayless Show.

“Is that what’s going on? Maybe.”

Fans reacted to Bayless’s take on social media.

“It’s not going to end, WNBA wants Clark Gone, the 55% uptick with her playing they’ll gladly sacrifice, if she was black, WNBA would love her,” one fan wrote on Twitter.

“Would not be surprised, nor would I hold it against her. Gotta look out for yourself, when the league refuses to look out for you,” someone else added.

“Y’all doing Caitlin a disservice by projecting that she’s mentally weak and faking injuries because of it. After seeing her during All Star weekend, she gets along with the other players just fine. It’s the fans and media running with that jealousy/resentment narrative,” one fan added.

It’ll be interesting to see if Clark returns soon or if Bayless is onto something.

About Qwame Skinner

Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.