WNBA Players Face Unique Pressures

Caitlin Clark seems to attract more attention than most WNBA players.

In her case, that attention comes with a hefty dose of pressure, something that fellow rising star Paige Bueckers believes is a bit unfair.

“I just think the pressure [Clark] faces every night… it’s really inhumane, honestly,” Bueckers commented recently. “People expect her to be perfect, to never take a break. If she doesn’t score a certain number of points, people start questioning her abilities. It’s not fair.”

She added, “She’s such a resilient person, tuning out the noise and focusing on herself and her team.”

There’s an expectation that seems to be rising for Clark, especially since the Indiana Fever star has had a rough stretch in her recent games.

In one game, she had a tough time from beyond the arc, posting a 23% shooting percentage.

Additionally, Clark is dealing with a groin injury, which kept her from playing in a fiery matchup against Los Angeles, where Indiana lost 85-75.

Bueckers can relate to the expectations placed on Clark, especially since Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft.

“I’m often a perfectionist. I feel like every shot I take should be perfect,” Bueckers reflected. “But it’s important to remind yourself that it’s okay to not be perfect—we all have our ups and downs.”

Both Bueckers and Clark are facing similar obstacles as they adjust to their rookie seasons. Currently, the Fever finds themselves at the bottom of the WNBA standings with a record of 4-12, despite Clark averaging 17.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.

“You’ll have good games and bad games,” Bueckers noted. “But as long as you keep pushing forward and learning from each experience, that’s all anyone can ask.”