IfTo be honest most of the sports world that follows women’s basketball be it a veteran fan of the game or a casual viewer probably thought that Caitlin Clark was going to come into the WNBA and light the league on fire.
And to be fair to those people, why wouldn’t they? After all, Clark just finished an iconic four-year run with the Iowa Hawkeyes breaking and setting almost every scoring record possible.
Why Caitlin Clark Is Struggling In The WNBA?
Think back to when you were 22 years old. Chances are you may have just finished college and headed off to work your first real job. Imagine being 22 years old with millions watching and criticizing your every mistake. Imagine having the weight of an entire franchise and to some extent the weight of a complete organization on your 150lb frame.
Now imagine being told that no matter how hard you try, how well you do (or don’t do) that you are struggling to live up to lofty expectations that very few other 22-year-olds in the world have put upon them.
While flashes of brilliance have been seen during the first dozen games of her rookie season, her overall statistics haven’t mirrored her dominant collegiate career. This raises the question: why is a player with such a decorated past struggling to find her footing in the professional ranks? However to question that question, is a player who has led her team in scoring in six of twelve games and in assists in all twelve games, while leading the team in overall points and assists actually struggling?
Caitlin Clark addresses the media in her press conference shortly after being selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Go Go Go
The final buzzer of the NCAA Women’s 2023-24 season sounded on Sunday, April 7th. Eight days later, Clark was walking across the WNBA Draft stage to shake hands with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Between that time, there were the required team meetings, workouts, media rounds, etc.
Two weeks later the Fever and the rest of the league opened their training camps with pre-season games slated to start the following week.
Ten days later the regular season tipped off. In addition to the practices, meetings, workouts, and media demands, you now have to add traveling across the country with very little time to sleep in your own bed as the Fever played twelve games in twenty-five days. Keep in mind the Las Vegas Aces have only played eight games in that same time frame.
A Woman’s Game
One of the more obvious reasons why some believe Clark is struggling is the significant increase in physicality compared to the college game. WNBA players are bigger, stronger, and more experienced. Clark, known for her shifty ball handling and reliance on quick first steps, is finding it harder to create space against defenders who can bump her off course and challenge her shots more consistently.
As famed Connecticut Huskies Women’s head coach Geno Auriemma put it, “If you’re a great college player like Caitlin was, the delusion fanbase that follows her disrespected the WNBA players by saying ‘she’s gonna go in that league and tear it apart’…so the kid was set up for failure right from the beginning.”
Help Me Help You
Clark landed on the Indiana Fever, a team which has not had a winning record since 2016. While most teams that struggle are usually able to rebuild through the draft, the Fever has been hit-and-miss when it comes to selecting players. Lauren Cox (3rd pick 2020, Kysre Gondrezick (4th pick 2021), Emily Engstler (4th pick 2022), Lexie Hull (6th pick 2022) and Grace Berger (7th pick 2023) have all failed to make an impact on the team. While Aliyah Boston (1st pick 2023) showed some value in her rookie season averaging 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds, her stats across the board have taken a dip, as has NaLyssa Smith’s (2nd pick 2022)
The lack of a strong supporting cast and a defined offensive system can hinder a young player’s development. With limited scoring options on the Fever, defenses can afford to focus heavily on Clark, making it harder for her to find scoring opportunities and create open looks for herself and her teammates.
Auriemma even commented, “This kid’s on the wrong team,” suggesting that a more established team with a proven system might be better suited to nurture her talent. While Clark’s individual talent is undeniable, a strong supporting cast and a well-defined offensive system are crucial for maximizing her potential.
Dijonai Carrington mocks Caitlin Clark 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/AV6kfi6Te7
— WNBA Rookie Watch (@WNBARookieWatch) June 10, 2024
Focal Point
Clark’s reputation as a scoring machine precedes her. WNBA teams are undoubtedly putting a heavy focus on limiting her production. Defensive schemes often involve “top-locking” her, denying her the ball on screens, and forcing her to pass out of pick-and-rolls. Opposing teams are well-prepared for her skillset, making it harder for her to find the open looks she enjoyed in college.
If you tuned in for the Fever’s two early season games against the New York Liberty, you would have seen Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, a two-time member of the WNBA’s All-Defensive Team glued to her hip for the length of the court for the entire game.
This targeted defense, coupled with the overall higher defensive IQ of the WNBA, presents a significant challenge for Clark.
Making The Jump
It’s important to remember that even the most hyped rookies may struggle in their first WNBA season. Candace Parker had a ten-point game. Sabrina Ionescu had a twelve-point outing in her first game. Breanna Stewart had a pair of single-digit nights in her first month. The talent level is unparalleled, and the learning curve from the NCAA to the WNBA is steep. Adjusting to a faster pace, more physical play and complex defensive schemes takes time.
Clark herself acknowledged the early season adjustment, stating, “The physicality is definitely up there. I’m easily pushed off screens. The game seems a little fast for me right now. The more I play and the more comfortable I get, it’s going to slow down a bit.”
Playing The Long Game
While Clark’s early struggles might be concerning to some, it’s important to maintain a long-term perspective. Within her first eight games, she became the fastest player in league history to notch 100 points and 50 assists. She also dropped two 30-point games and a trio of 20+ point games so far this season.. She’s still incredibly young and has the raw talent and work ethic to become a star in the WNBA. Her scoring prowess, shooting ability, and basketball IQ are undeniable assets.
Once she adjusts to the physicality and learns to navigate the defensive schemes thrown her way, she can be a dominant force. History is littered with examples of WNBA rookies who struggled initially but blossomed into superstars later in their careers. Patience and continued development are key to Clark’s (and the Fever’s) long-term success.
Don't Tell Angel Reese But The 0-11 Washington Mystics Hosted The Largest WNBA Crowd In 17 Years Because Caitlin Clark Was In Town https://t.co/zKnGZ3KvFl pic.twitter.com/JKeJrDiJEE
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 8, 2024
