INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever’s two-game preseason concluded Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with the regular season beginning May 14. Indiana split its preseason, losing to Dallas on May 3, 76-79. But the Fever were on the fortunate side of yet another single-possession scenario, beating the Atlanta Dream 83-80 Thursday. Caitlin Clark scored 33 points across both games.

Naturally, there’s room for improvement only two exhibitions in. Clark realizes it. So does Fever head coach Christie Sides.

For the Fever's top rookie prospect, stepping into the competitive WNBA on a short turnaround has been on par with Clark’s expectations. But that doesn’t make the transition for the once-college record-breaking machine any less demanding or difficult.

After the Fever’s win, in which Clark played 32 minutes, the guard said the biggest tool is “continuing to stack days” and to learn. The Fever will play seven games in 12 days to open the season. Clark knows she must be ready.

“This is the challenge I signed up for and I'm excited,” Clark said, welcoming it all. “That's what it's going to be: some nights are going to be really great. Some nights are going to be learning opportunities for myself and our entire group. So that’s what makes it fun, but we’re ready for it.”

Physicality-wise, Clark said the leap to the WNBA reminds her of international basketball, where foul calls aren’t as common. Defenders will be physical, they’ll be in your space, and they won’t let you leisurely cut away from the ball. Clark knows she has to be physical back, use pace of play to their advantage, and set up and use screens. Clark thinks she can set and come off screens better, helping both her and her teammate in the exchange to be open on the court.

“There's times [Clark] comes off ball screens where she's open in that long-two area and we've got to get her comfortable taking that,” Sides said. “I gave her a rule the other day: she’s got 0.5 seconds to make a decision, when she gets off the ball and she hits somebody in the high post, she has a habit of hanging out and dancing. That’s what she’s done. It’s these habits that we’ve gotta break. She’s got players around her now that she can get out, she can go screen, and the ball’s gonna get back to her. That’s what she hasn’t had in the past.”

The Fever second-year head coach’s post-game talk revolved around “the process.” Clark is Indiana’s contemporary facilitating and scoring point guard, always looking to pass up the floor. Sides noted this style differs from how the team operated last season under veteran Erica Wheeler.

Adjustments to Clark in the lineup won’t happen overnight. Sides does not mind that obstacle. She said her post players receiving on-the-run passes from Clark have to finish better at the rim.

Meanwhile, Clark’s points speak to the competitive talent in the WNBA, with slim roster spots.

“That’s the biggest thing, is just you can’t take a second off, no matter who you’re guarding,” the Fever rookie said. “No matter if you’re on offense or defense, like you breathe for one second, you’re not looking at your man, and she’s on the other side of the court… you can’t take one single possession off, whether it’s on offense or defense. Always being aware I think is the biggest thing.”

In about the six minutes Clark played in the final quarter Thursday night, she didn’t record an assist or rebound –– compiling six and eight, respectively, in the three quarters beforehand to be on triple-double watch. In spite of the blank stat line in the fourth, Clark said postgame she made an effort to play spirited defense and make plays that may not show up in the box score.

“I think that's just still continuing to learn and feel those things out,” Clark said.