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Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever finally got the break they needed this week, taking four days off to regroup and recharge amid a challenging start to the 2024 season. Despite Clark being named the WNBA Rookie of the Month for May, she and her teammates have faced numerous frustrations to start the season, including a demanding schedule, limited practice time and intense scrutiny from opponents and the media.
“I think honestly just getting away from basketball, getting some sleep, taking care of my body,” Clark said, explaining what she did during the break before returning to practice on Wednesday, via Michael Marot of the Associated Press. “I play the point guard spot, like, I haven’t gotten a lot of practice time with my team and that’s really hard, trying to navigate an offense and you haven’t had much practice time together.”
Statistically, Clark's start in the WNBA has been impressive. She is only the third player in league history to surpass 100 points, 30 rebounds and 30 assists in her first six games. She leads this year's rookie class in scoring (17.6 points), assists (6.6), field goals (46) and free throws (42). She has even matched Diana Taurasi’s record for 3-pointers made (24) in this span.
However, her impressive start has not come without its challenges. Clark leads the league with 59 turnovers, has picked up technical fouls in three consecutive home games, and has publicly expressed frustration over calls. The Fever's 2-9 record and the physical play she has encountered, including a notable run-in with Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter, have created a national stir. UConn coach Geno Auriemma said he believes Clark is being “targeted” and getting “beat up.”
“She’s a human and I think she deserves to give herself some grace, and I think a lot of people around this world should, too,” Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell said. “Not only is she human, she’s a 22-year-old kid, technically, and I think that as she’s going to transition, there’s going to be things she’ll experience that comes with time. I think the world should give her some grace.”
Caitlin Clark hopeful Indiana Fever's chemistry improves
The Fever's relentless schedule has not helped. Playing 11 games in 20 days, the most compact opening schedule since the Washington Mystics in 2007, Indiana faced two back-to-backs in one week with three of the four games on the road. They are 0-6 against the league’s top three teams and 2-3 against others. With nearly every game on national television, criticism has been constant. Clark, less than two months removed from a 39-game college season, is adjusting to the demands of the WNBA.
“I don’t know if I’ve experienced anything like it ever in my 12 years of coaching in this league,” Fever coach Christie Sides said. “Just to have that grind of a schedule, two back-to-backs against the two best teams in the league. It’s just really tough. You’ve just got to keep your team together whenever they’re going through something like this.”
The Fever, who have not reached the playoffs since 2016, are experiencing a newfound spotlight with Clark. Her performances have driven sellouts and high television ratings. Home ticket sales for the Fever's first five games have already surpassed last season’s 20-game total, and average home crowds have quadrupled to 16,571. Opponents have even moved games to larger venues to accommodate Clark's fans.
However, the season's toll is evident. Clark has nearly matched her losses from the last two college seasons combined, and both she and her teammates have sometimes appeared out of sync. The added media responsibilities have also been demanding.
“Chemistry hasn’t been there so hopefully we’ll continue to grow our connection a little bit better,” Clark said, noting that Indiana hadn't practiced in three weeks. “Hopefully, we’ll get our legs under us a little bit more, make a few more shots, we probably haven’t shot it as well as we would have liked. But I think overall, just our chemistry and how we’re working together will get better.”
