Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall choice, has had a difficult rookie season, facing criticism for everything from color and gender to commercial travel to whether or not she shoots too much or too little. Her club, the Indiana Fever, has battled to overcome a 1-8 start to the season, but they have recently improved and are now 7-12.
Nonetheless, the Fever lost their second game in a row on Thursday night, falling to the Seattle Storm on the third leg of a major five-game road trip that has already included a win in Atlanta and a devastating one-point loss in Chicago, when they blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead.
Following her loss against the Storm, Clark met with the media alongside fellow Fever star Aliyah Boston, and, well, Clark became tired of the constant barrage of questions.
Clark answered the first four questions, but as a reporter began to ask a fifth, she raised her hand. “Ask Aliyah a question,” she stated.
The reporter proceeded, but Clark said, “No, ask Aliyah a question.”
WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston has struggled.
Boston did ultimately receive a question, as she should have. She led the team with 14 rebounds, but struggled with her shooting on the night, going 5-for-16 and contributing four of the Fever’s 20 turnovers. Clark also struggled with turnovers, committing six in total.
Boston, it may be argued, is the Fever’s most significant player, certainly after Clark. She was named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2023, and her teaming with Clark was anticipated to provide the Fever with an intriguing inside-out duo.
Instead, Boston has reversed her rookie numbers, sliding from 14.5 points per game to 12.9. Her rebounding (8.3) and blocked shots (1.3) have been consistent, but her main issue has been scoring efficiency, which has dipped from 57.8% last year to 48.3% this year.
Boston’s efficiency is a relatively accurate indicator of the Fever. When she shoots 57% or higher, the Fever is 5-2.
Despite Seattle’s aggressiveness, she attributed some of the turnovers to her team’s actions. Just being able to take another step towards honestly reading what the defense is providing me. I tried going high-low a number of times and probably should have just kicked it out to the strong side corner because they were sitting there for a little while.”
Caitlin Clark: ‘I Am 19 Games In’
Clark, for her part, was agitated during the press conference, even before handing over the microphone to Boston. She was asked what she believed her legacy will be, which is a huge question to ask a rookie shortly after a 12-point loss on a long WNBA road trip.
“Holy smokes,” Clark exclaimed. “I don’t know; I’m 19 games in. I suppose I’ll just keep learning and having fun with this game. And certainly, look to improve and build every day.”
Clark addressed the issue of when she should shoot and when she should pass. She only took nine shots on Friday, but that was because the Storm consistently double-teamed her off screens.
“I think especially for us, we played off a lot of ball screens tonight, so I think like, when you are getting doubled on a ball screen, you’re always going to give it up because it should create an advantage for us, 4-on-3, attacking the basket,” Clark told ESPN.
“I don’t think we played too well out of our ball screens tonight but, you know, I could definitely be a little more aggressive to the basket but I just try to take what the defense gives me and try to set my teammates up for success, too.”
