Caitlin Clark, the star rookie of the Indiana Fever, has been having a standout season despite the team’s struggles. However, in their recent loss to the Seattle Storm, Clark had six turnovers, bringing her total to 106 for the season ¹ ². Clark recognizes that her high number of turnovers is a problem, especially when the team is relying on her for offense ¹. She attributes the issue to the team’s struggles with executing on-ball screens, which often results in her getting doubled-teamed and having to give up the ball ¹. Clark also acknowledges that she needs to be more aggressive in attacking the basket, but also wants to set her teammates up for success ¹.
Coach Christie Sides has also come under scrutiny for her team’s performance, with some questioning her ability to lead the team ². Sides has responded by saying that Clark needs to shoot more and that the team needs to do a better job of setting her up for success ². However, some have criticized Sides for not doing enough to help Clark, who is often the focus of opposing teams’ defenses ².
Despite the challenges, Clark remains one of the top rookies in the league, averaging 16.3 points and 6.6 assists per game ². She has also shown her commitment to her teammates, redirecting the focus to her teammate Aliyah Boston during a post-game press conference ³.
Clark’s performance has also led to some controversy, with some questioning her relationship with her coach, Christie Sides ⁴. When asked about the best piece of in-game advice she received, Clark responded, “Nobody gives me advice in game. I wish,” which some interpreted as a criticism of Sides ⁴. However, it’s clear that Clark is committed to improving and helping her team succeed, despite the challenges they face.
