Coming off a three-point performance on Sunday, Caitlin Clark gave an honest assessment of her WNBA career so far. She's only 11 games in over the past 20 days, and it's been quite a ride.
Clark hasn't been shooting as well as she would like. “I feel like I’ve gotten some good shots and good looks,” she shared. “As a shooter, that’s sometimes what happens.”
Highlights and Adjustments
- Vision and Passing: Clark is known for her floor-general skills and exceptional vision. She's pleased with her passing game early in her professional career.
- Rebounding: Despite her size, she feels she's done a good job rebounding. "I think I’ve honestly rebounded the ball pretty well,” she said. “I like to get it off the glass and push.”
Back in college at Iowa, where she led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back Final Fours and became the NCAA's most prolific scorer, Clark was consistently dominant. But the WNBA has presented a learning curve, and she's taking it in stride.
Performance Stats
Entering Friday, Clark was averaging:
- 15.6 points
- 5.1 assists
- 6.4 rebounds
- 1.3 steals per game
Challenges and Growth
Clark acknowledges the adjustment period and the ups and downs. "I feel like I’ve played some good games. I feel I’ve played some games where it’s like, ‘Hmm,’" she said. But she's committed to improving and adapting to Indiana head coach Christie Sides' system.
There have been moments of solid defense, but Clark knows she needs to be more effective on that end. She also led the league in turnovers per game with 5.4 as of Friday. “Once the game slows down for me a little bit, the turnovers will go down,” she said.
The Bigger Picture
With the Fever off to a 2-9 start, Clark is learning how crucial experience is in the WNBA. “If you’re the No. 1 pick, you’re probably going to a team that didn’t have the greatest year the year before. … It can be tough at times," she noted.
Team Dynamics
One bright spot for Clark is the team's energy. “One of the biggest positives over the course of the first 11 games is the energy about this group. It’s the same exact way as it was when we played our first game.” Along with Aliyah Boston, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, Clark and the Fever are building a strong foundation for the future.
Coach's Perspective
Coach Christie Sides believes in the potential of her young stars. "We need to just keep laying, brick-by-brick, and stay the course. And that can be hard to do with the outside expectations. But Aliyah and Caitlin have wonderful futures ahead of them. It’s just going to get better."
The Ear Injury Incident
Clark had to leave the Fever's game against the New York Liberty due to ear pain. When asked for details, she declined to go into specifics. “Honestly, I don’t really know," she said. "I don’t want to explain it, that would be pretty gross.” She mentioned that she currently can't hear well out of one ear but is confident her hearing will return soon.
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