Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides faced significant criticism from WNBA fans on Thursday night after suggesting that star rookie Caitlin Clark needs to shoot more frequently.
Sides’ comments came in the wake of Clark taking just nine shots during an 89-77 loss to the Seattle Storm, with only two of those attempts occurring in the second half.
“Caitlin Clark needs to shoot at minimum 15 shots a game for us,” Sides said. “She’s gotta get shots, and we’ve got to do a better job of setting her up and setting some really good screens to get her open.”
Clark, who has taken 223 field goal attempts this season, ranks 11th in the WNBA. However, her average of 11.7 attempts per game falls outside the top 15 in the league. In contrast, her teammate Kelsey Mitchell has taken 245 shots, averaging 13.6 attempts per game.
Fans were quick to point fingers at both Clark’s teammates and Coach Sides for the superstar rookie’s limited shooting opportunities.
“Between Aliyah Boston’s best friend throwing shade at CC’s play style and NaLyssa screaming ‘everyone eats,’ idk why we are shocked. Her teammates have neutered her game. All their complaining has turned into this passive play style,” one fan tweeted.
Another fan added, “She was doing that early in the season then you decided it was all about ‘paint touches’ and you turned her into Evolutionary Steve Nash. Now you want her to go back to the first 9 games? Shaddup.”
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At the beginning of the season, Clark averaged 13.6 field goal attempts per game over the first nine games.
During this stretch, however, Indiana managed to secure only one win. Recently, Indiana has improved, going 6-4 in their last 10 games, but Clark’s shot attempts have dropped to just over 10 per game during this period.
The situation underscores a deeper issue within the team’s strategy and dynamics. Clark’s reduced shooting frequency coincides with the team’s recent success, creating a conundrum for Coach Sides.
While it’s clear that increasing Clark’s shot attempts could leverage her scoring ability, it’s uncertain how this change would impact the team’s overall performance.
Sides appears to be wrestling with finding the right balance. Her comments suggest a desire to optimize Clark’s offensive contributions without disrupting the team’s current rhythm. Yet, her uncertainty is palpable.
As the Fever continue their season, the team’s ability to effectively integrate Clark’s shooting prowess with their overall strategy will be critical.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Sides and the team address this challenge.
With high expectations placed on Clark, both from within the team and from the wider WNBA community, the upcoming games will be pivotal in determining whether the Fever can harmonize their star rookie’s potential with their collective success.
