Caitlin Clark took a step back and considered where she could improve after a season of tremendous improvement with the Indiana Fever. Despite topping a slew of rookie statistics, she still has a long way to go before matching the numbers put up by some of the WNBA’s biggest stars. Indiana coach Christie Sides also discussed how the squad may capitalize on Clark’s high-scoring potential.
Despite dominating the WNBA rookie statistics this season, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is looking to enhance her scoring form even more.
Clark leads the team in points per game (16.2), assists (6.6), field goals made (4.9), and attempted (12.2), but frustrations surfaced after the Fever were defeated 89-77 by the Seattle Storm on Thursday night.
She scored only three points in the second half of Seattle’s 89-77 loss, while Jewell Loyd led the way with 34 points despite playing the majority of the game with an eye injury.
And, while Clark leads a group of rookie scorers, she still has a long way to go before matching the numbers of some of the league’s most accomplished guards.
Seattle’s Loyd (17.5), Skylar Diggins-Smith (13.5), and New York’s Sabrina Ionescu (15.3) are among the players who average more shots than the 22-year-old.
Caitlin Clark dime appreciation post 😮💨
Despite the loss, the rook had some big time assists for the Indiana Fever pic.twitter.com/Cje6JRQoAC
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 28, 2024
“We played out of a lot of ball screens tonight,” Clark told ESPN.
“So, if you’re getting doubled on a ball screen, you’re always going to give up. It should give us a 4-on-3 edge when attacking the hoop. But I didn’t believe we performed particularly effectively outside of our ball screens tonight.
“I could probably be more aggressive toward the basket. But I think I’ll simply take what the defense provides me and try to set my teammates up for success as well.”
Indiana coach Christie Sides discussed Clark’s problems in the division and how she and the squad as a whole can improve.
“Caitlin Clark needs to shoot a minimum of 15 shots a game for us,” Sides told ESPN.
“She’s got to get shots, and we’ve got to do a better job of setting her up, setting some really good screens for her to get her open.”It’s difficult to watch how people protect her. Once the ball is out of her hands, she is preparing the rest of our team for some fantastic shots. She’s getting some nice looks [for herself] off the ball. But we like her on the ball, so we need to figure out how to manage the two.”
On Thursday, A’ja Wilson led the Las Vegas Aces with 31 points in a 95-88 win over the Chicago Sky.
Meanwhile, DeWanna Bonner had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Connecticut Sun defeated the Washington Mystics, 94-91.
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