Indiana Fever Star Caitlin Clark Hints at Retirement Over Giving Up Wine and Cookies

The All-Star guard says she'd rather retire than give up her favorite indulgences like LeBron James did during his recovery.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, a two-time WNBA All-Star, hinted that she would rather retire than give up her wine and cookies, as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James did during his recent injury recovery. Clark made the comment in response to a video about James sacrificing his favorite treats for a month to focus on his health.

Why it matters

Clark's comments about preferring retirement over giving up her indulgences provide a lighthearted look into the mindset of a professional athlete, highlighting the challenges they face in balancing their competitive drive with their personal lives and enjoyments. It also shows the parallels between the recovery processes of NBA and WNBA stars.

The details

During the 2025 WNBA season, Clark appeared in just 13 games for the Indiana Fever due to multiple injuries, including groin issues and an ankle sprain. As she prepares for the 2026 season, Clark has remained active off the court, participating in events like the Annika driven by Gainbridge pro-am and USA Basketball training camp. In a recent social media comment, Clark responded to a video about LeBron James giving up wine and cookies during his injury recovery, saying "I'd rather retire than do this. This is why he's him."

  • Clark will begin her third WNBA season with the Indiana Fever on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
  • In November 2025, LeBron James gave up wine and cookies for the entire month as part of his recovery from a 14-game absence to start the NBA season.

The players

Caitlin Clark

A two-time WNBA All-Star guard for the Indiana Fever who hinted at retirement rather than giving up her wine and cookies, similar to what LeBron James did during his recent injury recovery.

LeBron James

A star forward for the Los Angeles Lakers who revealed he gave up wine and cookies for an entire month as part of his recovery from a 14-game absence to start the 2025-26 NBA season.

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What they’re saying

“I'd rather retire than do this. This is why he's him.”

— Caitlin Clark (Instagram)

“So, I needed to give up something. I gotta sacrafice something, and actually did two things that I love. And that is drinking wine and my chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I completely took it out... For the whole month of November, I'm gonna do no desserts and no wine, no liquor, no nothing for the whole month of November. And yeah, I did that.”

— LeBron James (Mind the Game podcast)

What’s next

Clark and the Indiana Fever will tip off the 2026 WNBA season on Saturday, May 9, hosting Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.

The takeaway

Clark's lighthearted comments about preferring retirement over giving up her favorite indulgences like wine and cookies provide a relatable and humorous look into the mindset of a professional athlete, highlighting the challenges they face in balancing their competitive drive with their personal lives and enjoyments.