Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are 4 video games into the 2024 WNBA season, and thru 4 losses — all towards semifinalists from final yr’s playoffs — the product has been a blended bag.
The Fever dropped their first two video games, towards the Connecticut Solar and the New York Liberty, by a mixed 57 factors, the biggest level deficit in WNBA historical past for a staff by way of its preliminary pair of video games. Clark scored 20 factors in her debut but in addition struggled with foul bother and had 10 turnovers. In her second sport, she was held to single-digit scoring for the primary time since her freshman yr of faculty, as Indiana fell by 36.
However the tide started to show for Clark and the Fever in rematches towards New York and Connecticut, culminating in a close to upset of the Solar in Indianapolis on Monday. Indiana began slowly towards Connecticut however roared again to take a four-point lead late within the fourth quarter, earlier than finally letting it slip away.
Clark, who left Monday’s contest within the second quarter after twisting her left ankle, returned to complete with 17 factors, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. However most notably, the Fever as a complete started to function like a unit, with Indiana’s comeback beginning when Clark was on the bench and Kelsey Mitchell (17 factors), NaLyssa Smith (13), Temi Fagbenle (11) and Aliyah Boston (10) all ending in double figures, as nicely.
One play early within the fourth quarter finest captured the Fever’s probably shiny future: Boston blocked a DeWanna Bonner layup and fed the ball to Erica Wheeler, who delivered it to Clark for a 33-foot 3-pointer to present Indiana the lead and ship Gainbridge Fieldhouse right into a tizzy.
The Fever are 0-4 — their fourth such begin in franchise historical past and first since 2021 — however they made an announcement Monday that extra probably than not they will not be bottom-feeders for lengthy.
ESPN’s Michael Voepel, Kevin Pelton and Alexa Philippou assess the struggles and strengths of Clark’s professional profession by way of 4 video games — and what’s to return from her and the Fever.
How would you charge Clark’s efficiency by way of 4 video games?
Voepel: She has completed what may very well be fairly anticipated. The Fever’s powerful schedule to begin the season meant Clark would instantly be going through not simply playoff-level opponents however the prime tier of these groups. Throughout some moments, she seemed slightly uncomfortable. In others, she appears to be gaining confidence. The magnifying glass on her is big, however the precise performances examined by way of the prism of actuality have been the general constructive blended bag virtually any prime rookie has early on in a professional sports activities profession.
Pelton: Bettering. I used to be extra optimistic than most WNBA analysts about Clark’s rookie potential based mostly on what we have seen from generational No. 1 picks up to now. Nonetheless, the time it took the newest high-scoring guards drafted with the highest decide (Sabrina Ionescu and Kelsey Plum) to grow to be WNBA stars tempered these expectations. Clark’s first 4 video games have seemed quite a bit like Ionescu’s abbreviated three-game rookie season, which featured a 33-point sport but in addition extra turnovers than assists. Clark’s scoring has come across the previous two outings. Now, she should reduce down on her turnovers.
Philippou: Numerous the response towards her early video games mentioned extra in regards to the expectations themselves (and whether or not they have been life like within the first place) than about Clark and her potential. It is not a given for prime picks (significantly guards) to return into the league and dominate in yr one, not to mention 4 video games in. We have seen her influence the sport in some ways, as she did at Iowa, even when her effectivity might stand enchancment and her turnovers want cleansing up. Now, we get to see how she builds on it for the following 36 regular-season video games.
Caitlin Clark sees progress with Fever regardless of loss
Fever rookie Caitlin Clark explains how shut her staff is to turning it round regardless of Indiana’s loss to the Solar on Monday night time.
In what areas has Clark struggled essentially the most?
Pelton: Being as efficient off the ball as she was at Iowa. Second Spectrum monitoring reveals an enormous cut up within the Fever’s effectivity based mostly on whether or not Clark brings the ball up the courtroom. In 142 possessions the place she has introduced the ball up, Indiana has averaged 1.06 factors per possession — good for a top-five offense within the WNBA. When another person brings the ball up, the Fever’s offense drops to 0.82 factors per possession, which might rank final.
If groups are going to disclaim Clark the ball, she needs to be extra aggressive both in getting open or leveraging that spotlight to make life simpler for teammates.
Voepel: Turnovers will bounce to everybody’s thoughts. Clark cannot afford timidity or second-guessing herself as a playmaker whereas on the courtroom. She will break down the performances on movie and maintain making changes. However she has to remain aggressive in video games.
To make use of an analogy that matches Indianapolis: When she’s behind the wheel of the race automotive, she has to go for it. Does that imply there shall be just a few crashes? Positive. However you are not going to win any race being afraid of the fuel pedal.
Philippou: Constructing off Pelton’s level, extra offensive exercise was one thing Clark thought she did higher Saturday towards the Liberty, the identical sport wherein she completed with a season-best 22 factors on 9-for-17 capturing. It is value monitoring Clark’s utilization, function and synergy together with her fellow backcourt teammates, particularly as Mitchell makes a full return from her offseason ankle damage. Within the rematch towards the Liberty, Clark and the Fever additionally began to play with extra tempo, which helped the offense get going.
The physicality of defenses has given her bother, and Clark mentioned she has needed to be taught to not be passive when that occurs. However the second line of protection will make her pay now in methods they weren’t at all times outfitted to on the school stage.
Caitlin Clark drops 17 factors, however Fever fall quick vs. Solar
The Indiana Fever drop their fourth consecutive sport regardless of Caitlin Clark’s 17-point efficiency.
How a lot of the Fever’s points will be attributed to lack of expertise enjoying collectively?
Pelton: Boston’s gradual begin stands out to me as the largest indicator that Indiana hasn’t but discovered find out how to maximize her pairing with Clark. After averaging 14.5 factors per sport on 58% capturing as a rookie All-Star, Boston is right down to 9.5 PPG and 40.5% from the sector. Boston by no means shot worse than 46% in any four-game span final season. Clark and Boston have already got run as many pick-and-rolls as any duo within the league, per Second Spectrum, however I would prefer to see much more — to place Boston in benefit conditions.
Philippou: It was telling to listen to Mitchell say Monday that the staff would not but have an identification: “I believe that is our subsequent step, establishing who we need to be.”
Offensively, the Fever will not be at their finest in the event that they’re overly reliant on Clark. Their offensive steadiness was a part of the explanation they got here so near beating the Solar; Clark herself famous the staff is at its finest when she is ready to facilitate. In the end, there is no substitute for time and expertise on the subject of studying how every staff member likes to play.
Voepel: The Fever haven’t got the type of expertise, individually or collectively, that many WNBA groups do — and positively not like New York and Connecticut do. Solely one among Indiana’s 4 video games required late-game execution; the opposite three weren’t that shut. On Monday, had they executed otherwise offensively and defensively within the remaining minute, they might have gained. Dealing with the identical two opponents twice in a short while body allowed the Fever to shortly use what they realized. So, that helps with the expertise deficit.
Caitlin Clark T’d up for yelling at ref after turnover
Alyssa Thomas steals the ball from Caitlin Clark, and Clark receives a technical foul after directing some phrases on the officers.
What is the greatest factor Clark can do to maintain bettering her total efficiency?
Voepel: Movie work and managing frustration are each key. She is aware of she has quite a bit to find out about defensive schemes and the way slim the margin of error is within the WNBA. Clark acquired a crash course within the season’s first week.
Coaches will say thorough information of personnel and scouting stories are what make the very best defenders within the league pretty much as good as they’re. Among the WNBA’s nice defenders have elite quickness and lateral motion, whereas others won’t be at fairly that stage. But what they’ve in widespread is preparation, excessive basketball IQ and a willingness to commit numerous power to protection.
Clark noticed good protection at occasions in school, however that is like leaping up 5 ranges. The extra she understands the defenders, the extra she will be able to counteract their strengths.
Clark obtained a technical foul on Monday, however it is not an enormous deal. She is going to be taught the road she has to toe with the WNBA referees. Her ardour on the courtroom is a part of the explanation folks like to observe her. She has to handle that, clearly, however she would not have to douse her personal fireplace a lot.
Philippou: Moving into the observe fitness center would assist Clark and the Fever enormously; their stretch of seven video games within the first 12 days of the season is just not forgiving for a staff that might profit extra from educating than an skilled squad. I think issues will come collectively much more as soon as they get further observe time — and afterward when the Olympics break comes round.
Pelton: Ignore the noise. Good, dangerous or in any other case, everybody has an opinion on Clark proper now — most of them not from individuals who perceive the fact of life within the WNBA. I would echo what Wheeler informed teammates, as associated in Alexa’s function on Clark’s first week as a professional: Keep off social media.
Can the Fever be a playoff staff by season’s finish?
Philippou: The way in which wherein they battled the Solar on Monday made me extra optimistic that they’ll get there, though a lot of that depends upon how different middle- or bottom-of-the-pack groups fare. However wins may be exhausting to return by for the foreseeable future: Indiana is again on the highway for video games towards the Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks and Las Vegas Aces from Wednesday by way of Saturday.
The Fever’s ceiling behind improved chemistry and expertise is excessive, particularly contemplating their huge enchancment over the previous week. And for as a lot as the main focus will gravitate towards the offense, given Clark’s function in it, do not overlook the defensive progress wanted for them to make the postseason.
Voepel: Can they be a playoff staff? is a special query than Will they be a playoff staff? As a result of 8 of 12 groups make the postseason within the WNBA, groups can battle some time however nonetheless put issues collectively sufficient to seize a kind of spots.
So, can the Fever do it? Sure. Will they? One week into the season, it would not appear to be the playoffs must be the main focus proper now. Though that is such an enormous carrot for a staff that hasn’t been to the postseason since 2016, the Fever being higher than final yr actually could be progress. That mentioned, I believe there’s nonetheless an affordable likelihood for the postseason if Indiana retains constructing on the teachings.
Pelton: I projected Indiana as a playoff staff coming into the season, and I do not assume the Fever’s begin has been dangerous sufficient to dissuade me from that being life like. I anticipated Connecticut and New York being two of the WNBA’s prime three groups this season, and it is value noting they are a mixed 3-0 towards groups in addition to the Fever too.