INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever standout Caitlin Clark struck the court with both hands and began signaling towards her teammates after causing a five-second violation near the conclusion of last Tuesday’s practice.
It was merely the second day of training camp, but this is precisely what Clark has desired for the last seven months – returning to work with a new coach, an updated roster, and even greater expectations in her second WNBA season.
Following her leadership in securing the Fever’s first playoff spot in eight years, earning the Rookie of the Year Award, and being recognized as both the Associated Press’ 2024 Female Athlete of the Year and Time magazine’s 2024 Athlete of the Year, Clark returned to Indianapolis as a more resilient and knowledgeable player, determined to capture the championship that slipped away during her college years.
It was definitely an adjustment, as I had grown accustomed to playing for, quite frankly, nearly a year of my life. “That’s everything I did,” Clark stated. “Therefore, the remainder was positive.” I expected it to feel prolonged, but it truly didn’t. We were here constantly. However, that aspect of rest—simply getting my body to the state it required and focusing on the things I needed to improve—was extremely essential. “However, I’m prepared to compete once more.”
It was a vacation well-earned for possibly the most active player in women’s basketball.
She concluded her last college season by participating in a 39-game schedule, guiding Iowa to its second consecutive national championship game on April 7, 2024. One week following their defeat to South Carolina, the Fever selected her as the No. 1 overall pick, and 13 days later, training camp commenced.
After a short preseason, Clark stepped onto the field for her regular-season debut on May 10. That initiated a 42-game struggle in which the Fever rallied from a 1-8 beginning to end at 20-20. Subsequently, they were eliminated from the playoffs.
The sole genuine interruption for Clark throughout that 81-game, 10 1/2-month period was the month-long Olympic hiatus.
CLARK’S INFLUENCE
Clark transformed sellouts at college and WNBA games into a regular occurrence as her every action was examined on social media. Supporters expressed concerns that she was not being treated fairly by the league’s veteran players, with some even claiming that the physical play had racial undertones. Her friendships and relationships gained immense popularity, and everything appeared to be permissible.
However, Clark never voiced any complaints, never yielded to the pressure, and utilized this seven-month hiatus to concentrate on being true to herself. She marked off a bucket list achievement — being present at the final round of the Masters earlier this month — and had her college jersey honored. She went to a Taylor Swift concert, an NFL game featuring Swift, and definitely Pacers games.
Now, however, she appears invigorated as she extols the virtues of an experienced squad brimming with championship aspirations and accolades, from Coach Stephanie White to players Natasha Howard and the 37-year-old DeWanna Bonner.
The initial feedback suggests that the personalities align perfectly.
“Everything is simply fantastic,” remarked All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell. “It seems new.” It feels somewhat like when you remove your laundry from the dryer. “It simply seems different and it feels positive due to our new leadership.”
It’s not only the revamped lineup, either.
Mitchell, one of the rare remnants from the previous season, also perceives a different iteration of Clark, which was highlighted in a picture shared on social media last month.
“From a physical perspective, her power and her skill in executing plays that others overlook — such as that skip pass from this point to that one,” Mitchell remarked. “A person of her skill level, it may appear minor, but it will aid her in rising from 10 assists to 12.” “Afterward, it’s about the professional development, analyzing footage, and understanding your requirements.”
Simply the idea of a stronger Clark this season might unsettle rivals.
Clark topped the Fever in minutes (35.4 per game) and steals (1.3), tied with Mitchell for team scoring leadership (19.2 points), and set the WNBA single-season record for assists with 337.
Pretty good for a newcomer looking to blend in and navigate her path.
However, the fervor and intensity with which Clark competes, even during practice, appear to have her more at ease taking on the leading role from the beginning of this season as well.
“She doesn’t squander repetitions and truly represents the principle that the way you approach any task reflects how you approach all tasks — be it a ball-handling exercise, a shooting exercise, or screen setting,” White stated. “She tackles it with such discipline that she doesn’t squander time, and I value that.”
Clark, on the other hand, is solely concentrated on securing victories.
The Fever will compete at her former school and Notre Dame during the preseason, with true challenges starting with Indiana’s season debut on May 17 away against Chicago and her former adversary, Angel Reese. And you can be sure, Clark will be just as enthusiastic to celebrate then as she was during practice.
“Don’t misunderstand me, I really enjoy basketball; it’s one of the most entertaining activities out there,” she stated. “We enjoyed a wonderful year and eventually moving on from that, I reached a moment where I was eager to return here after about a month.” “I’m glad to return.”
