Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is making waves in her rookie WNBA season, leading all rookies in scoring with 16.2 points per game (PPG) and assists with 6.6 per game. Despite her impressive stats, Fever head coach Christie Sides believes Clark needs to take more shots to maximize her impact on the court.
“Caitlin Clark needs to shoot a minimum of 15 shots a game for us,” Sides emphasized after the Fever’s 89-77 loss to the Seattle Storm on Thursday night. “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.”
In the game against Seattle, Clark led the Fever with 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, including 3-of-7 from three-point range, and went 4-of-5 from the foul line. She also contributed 7 assists and 6 rebounds. However, post players Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith took more shots, with Boston attempting 16 and Smith 11. Guard Kelsey Mitchell also had 10 attempts.
Clark is currently second on the Fever in shot attempts, averaging 12.2 per game, just behind Mitchell’s 13.4. During her college career at Iowa, Clark averaged 20.1 shots per game, peaking at 22.7 in her senior season. While she leads all WNBA rookies in shot attempts, she ranks 22nd overall in the league. Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale tops the league with 21.8 shot attempts per game.
Other guards who average more shots than Clark include Seattle’s Jewell Loyd (17.5), Las Vegas’ Kelsey Plum (15.9), New York’s Sabrina Ionescu (15.3), and Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi (13.7). Many of these players are Olympians, highlighting the elite company Clark is joining just 19 games into her WNBA career.
Clark acknowledged the challenges the Fever face offensively, especially after their 20 turnovers against Seattle, six of which were hers. “We played out of a lot of ball screens tonight,” Clark said. “So when you’re getting doubled on a ball screen, you’re always going to give it up. It should create an advantage for us 4-on-3 attacking the basket. But I didn’t think we played too well out of our ball screens tonight.”
Clark admitted she could be more aggressive in attacking the basket but emphasized the importance of taking what the defense gives her and setting up her teammates for success. Coach Sides also noted the difficulty in managing how teams guard Clark. “The way people guard her, it’s tough,” Sides said. “Once the ball is out of her hands, she is setting up the rest of our team for some really great looks. She’s getting some pretty good looks [for herself] off the ball. But we like her on the ball, so we have to figure out how to manage the two.”
The Fever’s offensive struggles have sparked discussions about the team’s dynamics and coaching. Right-wing commentator Jason Whitlock recently claimed that Sides, a white woman, is “in over her head” in managing a predominantly black roster. Whitlock suggested that the Fever hire a black male coach, such as former Warriors coach Mark Jackson, to better communicate with the team’s black players.
Whitlock’s comments have added another layer to the ongoing conversation about race and coaching in the WNBA. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III and sports commentator Stephen A. Smith have also weighed in, discussing how Clark’s race has been a point of contention and how some black WNBA players may resent her.
Despite these external discussions, Clark remains focused on improving her game and helping her team succeed. She has shown resilience and adaptability, qualities that will serve her well as she continues to navigate her rookie season.
As the Fever work to find their rhythm, Clark’s role will be crucial. Coach Sides’ call for Clark to take more shots underscores the team’s reliance on her scoring ability. With continued support and strategic adjustments, Clark has the potential to elevate her game even further and lead the Fever to more victories.
Source: ESPN, Daily Mail
