After delivering an impressive performance on the court with an 83-78 upset home win over the New York Liberty last Saturday, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark decided to try her hand at a different sport.
Alongside her Fever teammates Erica Wheeler and Lexie Hull, Clark participated in a charity pickleball event. While the event was a fun diversion, it also highlighted Clark’s inexperience with the game, as noted by an observant X (formerly Twitter) user.
During one particularly memorable moment, Clark demonstrated her unfamiliarity with pickleball rules. An X user, @bitservinglewks, pointed out her mistake: “Love you [Caitlin], but this was an illegal play. You took the ball out of the air and your momentum landed into the kitchen. [Erica], teach her the rules.”
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In pickleball, specific rules dictate how the game is played. One fundamental rule is that the ball must bounce on the court before it can be struck. This rule applies except during a serve, where the ball needs to bounce once on the receiver’s side first. Clark’s error was hitting the ball before it bounced on their side, breaking this rule.
Additionally, pickleball has a unique area called the “kitchen,” a seven-foot zone on both sides of the net. Players are prohibited from standing in or making contact with this zone while volleying a ball, according to Pickleballkitchen.com. Clark’s momentum carried her into the kitchen, resulting in another rule violation.
Responding to the fan’s comment, Erica Wheeler acknowledged Clark’s learning curve with the sport. “Hahaha she’s still learning! We wasn’t [sic] taking that moment away from [her] tho lol that was a good smack! I’ll take it,” Wheeler wrote.
Despite the learning curve, the charity event allowed Clark and her teammates to bond and enjoy themselves outside of basketball. Wheeler and Clark can use the break before their next game against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday to hone their pickleball skills further.
The Fever’s upcoming game offers Clark another chance to shine on the basketball court, but her foray into pickleball showcases her willingness to embrace new challenges and have fun, even if it means learning the rules along the way.
