Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever hasn’t quite gone as expected. Or maybe it has depending on who you talk to.
The Fever have not gotten off to a good start to the 2024 WNBA season. The Fever’s most recent loss, a 103-88 drubbing by the Seattle Storm, dropped them to 1-8 and 0-4 at home. Their lone win came on the road on May 24 against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Despite the Fever being down by double-digits for most of the second half against the Storm, Caitlin Clark shockingly did not get much of a breather. She played all but four seconds of the game as per WNBA reporter Khristina Williams.
Clark was just one of a few Fever players who logged heavy minutes against the Storm. Nobody on the Storm played more than 31 minutes. In addition to Clark, Kelsey Mitchell played 36 minutes and NaLyssa Smith played 33 minutes. As the season goes on, minutes played might become something to monitor.
Clark’s 40 minutes was a season-high. Prior to this game, her season-high was the 36 minutes she logged in the win against the Sparks. Through the Fever’s first seven games of the season, she had been averaging a little over 32 minutes per game.
Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides argues with the referees before receiving a technical foul, Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Seattle Storm defeated the Indiana Fever 103-88.
There has not been a player more polarizing in quite some time coming into their rookie season in the WNBA as Caitlin Clark has been. The former Iowa star captured the nation’s attention during her final season at Iowa when she became the NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball all-time leader scorer.
There was no surprise when the Fever selected Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. With all the accolades and attention placed upon Clark, that naturally drew quite a bit of hype and expectations as she prepared to make her WNBA debut.
Clark has drawn mixed reactions from players, fans and media alike. Many current and former players drew the ire of Clark fans when they suggested that Clark is going to need an adjustment period in the WNBA. In the early-goings of the regular season, those takes are not that far from the truth.
When compared to the other top rookies in the WNBA this season, Clark’s early numbers hold up well. Through the Fever’s first seven games, she’s been averaging 17.3 points, 5.4, 6.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocked shots with splits of 38.1 percent shooting from the field, 31.3 percent shooting from the three-point line and 88.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
Statistically, those are not bad numbers. Clark is still firmly in the the WNBA Rookie of the Year race. Her shooting percentages are not very efficient though. She’s definitely going need to adjust to the way teams are defending her as well as the quality of shots that she’s getting.
The Fever have missed the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons now. There’s a high probability that this will be their ninth missed postseason. The Fever held the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft last season as well when they selected Aliyah Boston.