Caitlin Clark’s Fever Coach Christie Sides Issues Warning to WNBA

With training camp underway, Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides is confident that opponents won’t be able to double-team against Caitlin Clark and her teammates.

“You’re not going to be able to double-team us,” Sides told reporters after the first day of training camp. “We’re going to have players out there on that court who can shoot it.”

Sides highlighted Clark’s passing ability as a new strength for the Fever, a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016. Clark, who drew comparisons to “Pistol” Pete Maravich, averaged 8.2 assists per game during her four seasons at Iowa.

“Her ability to space the floor for us is incredible,” Sides said.

While Clark showcased her passing skills during the Fever’s first practice, Sides expressed her dissatisfaction with the team’s missed layups. She mentioned that the team is “just not used to having … someone who can make some of those passes” on a regular basis.

Fever guard Erica Wheeler led the team in passing last season with 6.8 assists per game, and guard Grace Berger averaged 4.6 assists. However, neither has the same level of execution as Clark.

“I’m just enamored at times. I have to turn around because I’m like about to get really excited, and … I can’t do it in practice,” Sides said.

The Fever will make their preseason debut in Dallas on Friday, with just a few days to jell as a team after the start of training camp.

“So we’re supposed to jell by Friday,” Sides said with a laugh. “What we established last year, … we’re way ahead of the game. So we’ve got a great start, but … it’s going to take time.”

Indiana practiced again on Tuesday, and Clark continued to showcase her dynamic passing skills.

Sides also praised the way the Fever rookies adjusted during the first day of training camp.

“I mean we’re a whole new team for Caitlin and Celeste [Taylor] and Lei [Correa],” Sides said. “I mean they’re just trying to figure us out, too. I think all of them had a really good day today.”

The Fever drafted Celeste Taylor with the No. 15 pick out of Ohio State and Lei Correa with the No. 27 pick out of Florida. Both rookies showed promise during their first day of camp, with Taylor impressing as a defender and Correa displaying her scoring ability.

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