Caitlin Clark is one of the most popular and talented players in the WNBA. Just as a rookie, she was an All-Star, made the All-WNBA First Team, and finished fourth in MVP votes behind veterans A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. There is much more to come, and Clark is largely expected to finish her career as an all-time WNBA great.
Stephanie White’s recent admission about Clark further proves that she is on the right track. The Fever’s new head coach praised Clark’s maturity and work ethic.
“She’s far beyond her years in terms of her understanding of how to work,” White said via the Fever’s X account. “Oftentimes you see rookies, even the great ones, where it usually takes three years for them to figure it out. She’s got it figured out.”
White saying that Clark already has “it figured out” when she is just entering her second WNBA season just proves that she is on track to become an all-time great in women’s basketball.
Caitlin Clark quickly established herself as one of the best players in the league
Clark and the Fever got off to a rocky start in the 2024 season. They lost the first five games of the season and only got two wins in their first ten games. Over that stretch, Clark struggled with turnovers. In her regular-season debut, she turned the ball over ten times and then had five more games with five or more turnovers in May.
Early-season struggles like that are not uncommon for WNBA rookies. Most of them go straight from their college season into the draft and then into training camp.
Despite the early struggles, Clark and the Fever turned things around. Indiana finished with a 20-20 record and made the playoffs. Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 5.6 turnovers per game as the Fever’s leading scorer and playmaker. Clark even finished the season as the WNBA’s assist leader.
In her second season, Clark should be even better. Her turnover numbers will undoubtedly go down, as she has more experience and better teammates around her. Improving in that area will be the next step in her journey to becoming an all-time great.
Caitlin Clark will be the key to the Fever’s long-term success
Clark may be an incredibly talented player, but she will still need help to win at the highest level. The Fever got her plenty of help this offseason. Despite the high-level additions and the talent already on the roster with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, Clark is the key to the Fever’s success.
Not only is she a generational talent, but she is also the reason other stars will want to come to Indiana for years to come. Clark and the Fever already drew plenty of attention in free agency this offseason. That will only increase the better Clark gets.