The Indiana Fever are back in the playoffs for the first time since Tamika Catching retired behind a historic rookie season from Caitlin Clark. She has set records, added popularity, and revolutionized the game. Clark is already a legend, but she has her sights on winning. More records may fall as the 22-year-old rookie tries to lead the Fever on a deep playoff run.
It starts against the Connecticut Sun, which has been a problematic matchup this season. The Sun have won three of the four meetings and have found ways to slow down Clark that other squads can only dream of. Clark made the game-winning shot in their last contest, which may be a tide-shifting moment.
The Sun will try to prevent Clark from doing two things, but the rookie will be ready. This a chance for CC to prove she is already one of the best players in the W, and everyone knows she shines in pressure moments.
Sun need to stop Caitlin Clark from playmaking
Clark averaged just 3.8 assists per game in her four contests against the Sun this season, and she did not have more than five dimes in any game. Both times she had five, the game was close with the teams splitting. Connecticut dominated in the other meetings when Clark had three and two assists.
Clark’s second lowest assists per game average against a team is the Minnesota Lynx at 7.3 per contest. No team did better at shutting off her playmaking than the Sun, and the 22-year-old’s 25 turnovers are tied for her most against any franchise.
The Sun must turn Clark into a scorer and shut down her teammates. Clark has not scored more than 35 points in a game this season, and DiJonai Carrington will slow the phenom in one-on-one situations. Connecticut would rather see her drop 30 than dish out ten dimes. If her teammates are getting involved the Fever are rolling. That is when they are at their most dangerous.
The Sun know what they have to do to slow Clark down as a scorer too.
Sun cannot let Caitlin Clark go left
Clark has a deadly stepback and is dangerous coming off screens going left. The Fever will do everything possible to get her free in those situations. If Connecticut can limit those chances and keep her playmaking in check, scoring will be difficult for the Fever.
Clark took 355 3-pointers this season and just 225 shots inside the arc. She wants to get free and fire away on the perimeter. The Sun need to force her to go right and know where Clark is at all times.
The game plan will be laid out, but can the Sun actually slow down the Fever’s superstar?
Caitlin Clark has a chance to prove she is already unstoppable
Indiana is the lower seed with the first two games on the road. They are the underdogs in this series as the Sun have made the final four in five straight years. This is the perfect opportunity for Clark to prove everyone wrong.
Connecticut slowed her down during the regular season, but the rookie kept getting better every game. The Sun faced Indiana three times in their first 13 games. Clark and her team were a different group by that late-season meeting. The 22-year-old is just getting started, but she will be ready to shine in her first WNBA playoff experience.
Beyond that Clark knows what is coming. The Sun will try to involve her in actions and force her to expend energy on defense. They will slow her playmaking and attempt to prevent her from going left into her step back.
This is Clark’s shot to prove she is a transcendent talent like Stephen Curry. Teams know what the Warriors plan on doing but still can’t stop the all-time great. Caitlin Clark will get her teammates involved and make plenty of unfathomable shots. She is already on that level, so tune in and enjoy the show.