Big Scare 🤕
I know the outside world thinks I’m going to do some amazing things, but that might take some time… -Clark
Indiana Fever fans can rest easy. Just four games into the season, their rookie phenom, Caitlin Clark, suffered her first injury but it was just a scare. The Fever hosted the Sun last night and Clark rolled her left ankle before running into a screen from Brionna Jones in the second quarter. The play continued with Clark down and Jones scored a layup. The Fever then called a timeout with 5:29 left in the first half.
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Dodged a Bullet
WNBA news outlets witnessed how Clark lay on the ground for a minute before standing up and walking off the court on her own despite limping heavily. The 22-year-old guard went to the locker room and was replaced by Erica Wheeler. She then returned to the bench but didn’t play for the rest of the first half.
Caitlin Clark went to the locker room after suffering an apparent injury on this play.
She has since returned to the bench. pic.twitter.com/B00c5sd4YE
— ESPN (@espn) May 20, 2024
Clark had eight points on 2-of-8 shooting with one 3-point shot, and two rebounds before leaving. The Fever took a 44-41 lead into the third quarter and Clark started the second half after warming up with her teammates at halftime.
Clark is starting the second half with Samuelson, Boston, Mitchell, and Smith.
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) May 21, 2024
Clark’s WNBA Career So Far
Clark finished the game with 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc in 27 minutes. She also had five turnovers and the Fever lost 88-84, falling to 0-4 on the season.
CAITLIN CLARK PULLS UP FROM DEEP 😱
(via @IndianaFever)
pic.twitter.com/RSHHuMzsML— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 21, 2024
The two-time reigning national player of the year is a generational talent. After Clark’s unreal run at Iowa, many expect her to torch the WNBA and eventually overtake the scoring record, but she’s had a rocky start to her professional career.
Clark, who never lost three consecutive WNBA games at Iowa, has struggled with the league’s physicality. And she’s still adjusting to playing with new teammates and facing better defenses.
“I know the outside world thinks I’m going to do some amazing things, but that might take some time,” Clark said before her first regular season game on May 14.
The WNBA rumors are true, adjusting to the league isn’t easy for anyone. Clark has shown glimpses of why she changed women’s basketball forever but she’s struggled with ball control so far, and turnovers are plaguing her. Clark is averaging 17 points, 5.5 assists, and four rebounds in 31 minutes over four games this season, but she also has 26 turnovers in that span (6.5 turnovers per game).
Sabrina Ionescu faked out Caitlin Clark for the three 👀 pic.twitter.com/VQ6HlklIlz
— ESPN (@espn) May 18, 2024
“When I’m looking at all these things that people are talking about with Caitlin Clark, it’s like guys, chill out. She’s going to be fine,” Sun coach Stephanie White explained last Friday. “It’s two games in. Are you kidding me?”
Clark has now played in four WNBA games, but what White said is still true. Keep in mind that Clark has faced two of the best teams and defenses in the league, with Sun guard DiJonai Carrington and Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton guarding her. The expectations come with the territory but we need to let Clark do what she does best while getting used to her new challenges!
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