After a tough start to the 2024 WNBA regular season, Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides and standout rookie Caitlin Clark are both facing challenges.
Following a disappointing blowout loss to the New York Liberty on Thursday, it was clear that tensions were high within the team.
Caitlin Clark, who has demonstrated significant promise early in her career, showed noticeable improvement in her performance during Saturday’s game against the Liberty at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, despite the Fever falling 91-80, marking their third consecutive defeat. Clark scored 22 points, with 15 coming in the first half alone. She also added eight assists and six rebounds. However, her efforts were hampered by her teammates’ struggles to secure her passes, contributing to her recording eight turnovers in the game.
This issue was evident enough that ESPN cameras captured a frustrated exchange between Clark and Coach Sides, where Clark appeared to be advocating for her teammates. “100 percent. 100 percent. We will. Just give them time. Give ’em time,” Sides responded, acknowledging the need for patience.
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Clark’s shooting was efficient; she made 52.9 percent from the field and hit four out of ten three-point attempts, reminiscent of her stellar play at Iowa. Despite her individual successes, Clark’s transition to the WNBA has been rocky, leading the league in turnovers with an average of seven per game, totaling 21 turnovers.
This statistic, while disappointing, underscores the adaptation challenges faced by even the most talented players as they move into professional leagues. The Fever and Clark are clearly working through these growing pains, with Clark determined to elevate her team’s play and reduce the costly turnovers that have characterized their early season struggles.
