Just two games into her first WNBA season, Caitlin Clark sensed the difference in athleticism.
She noticed the team was protecting her face, even when the star rookie and No. 1 overall pick didn’t have the ball and even when possession of the ball passed to another Fever teammate.
Those feelings were amplified when Chennedy Carter tackled Clark to the ground just a few weeks later, with voices around the sports world, from former Fever legend Tamika Catchings to Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, each commenting that the league needed to protect its players and that Clark had become a “target.”
But after a month-long hiatus due to the Olympic break, Clark told reporters that while the Fever had no plans to build muscle that would help them the rest of the season, “we’ve been working pretty hard in the weight room.” Indiana is in contention for a playoff spot and improved its chances with Friday’s win over the Mercury.
“I’m small, but I try to do as much as I can on my own,” Clark said. He told reporters After a 98-89 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where she had 29 points and 10 assists, she said: “…I don’t know, but I think I’m secretly strong. I’m never going to be the strongest guy, I know that. I’m trying to put on weight, I’m working hard in the weight room. Obviously it’s in season so there’s a limit to that and there’s a limit to what I can do, but the last three weeks or so we’ve all been working pretty hard in the weight room.”
As Clark and the Fever were “performing live” for the WNBA season restart, Clark tried to get teammate Erica Wheeler to back down, but Wheeler thought, “I was going to push you away, but you’re stronger than I thought,” Clark said.
“Yeah, don’t mess with me,” Clark replied.
The Fever continued their season-long turnaround with the win, but Clark’s adjustment from Iowa to the WNBA also contributed to that, giving other teammates like Mitchell and Aaliyah Boston more opportunities when defenses are focused on the rookie.
Clark leads the WNBA in assists per game with 8.3 and, after struggling early in the year, has scored 13 or more points in each of her last 13 games for the Fever.
Eight of those games finished with Clarke recording a double-double, and the month-long break (even though Clarke was not on the medal-winning U.S. team roster) didn’t stop her progress.
“I think gaining a little bit of muscle at the end definitely helps,” Clark said Friday. “… It’s definitely something I’ll continue to focus on, but more than anything, I don’t want to slow down. I love to run fast and sprint.”
Clark and the Fever will host the Storm on Sunday looking for their fourth win in their last five games.
