Caitlin Clark has been making waves as the most hyped WNBA rookie of all time, thanks to her reputation as the greatest scorer in college basketball history. However, Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides is determined to help Clark reach her full potential by breaking some of her bad habits.
Before the WNBA Draft, both Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner warned Clark about the challenges she would face in the professional league. However, during the Fever’s first preseason game of the 2024 season, Clark silenced any doubters by scoring 16 points in her debut.
In the team’s second preseason game, Clark’s scoring wasn’t as prolific, but her teammate NaLyssa Smith was quick to defend her, highlighting Clark’s ability to create opportunities and facilitate the offense. Smith noted that Clark would have recorded a double-double if her teammates had converted some of the layups she set up for them.
However, there is still room for improvement, particularly in Clark’s shot selection. Coach Sides has implemented a new rule to help Clark adjust to the next level: she has 0.5 seconds to make a decision with the ball.
At Iowa, Clark was used to being the primary scorer and often carried her team with high-scoring performances. However, in the WNBA, she won’t always have the same scoring opportunities. Coach Sides wants Clark to adjust her shot selection based on how she is defended.
Sides’s comments are not about Clark’s ability to facilitate as a floor general; rather, she wants Clark to adapt her game to the professional level, much like how Steve Kerr and Steph Curry adjusted their game in the NBA.
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