As Caitlin Clark continues to adjust to life as a professional basketball player, several of her veteran teammates provided the star guard with a pearl of wisdom.
On the heels of being selected No. 1 overall by the Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft earlier this month, Clark took the court for the first time with her new team on Sunday. Indiana’s first practice of training camp was no walk in the park for NCAA’s Division I all-time scoring leader.
“Got a few workouts under my belt. I think that definitely helps,” Clark told reporters. “So not coming into training camp completely blind. It was a good first day. It was hard, but that's what you expect for these practices, and just fun to get out there with all the girls.”
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It didn’t take long for Clark to recognize the significant gap in talent and play between the collegiate and pro-level. “It's definitely different, but that's what you expect when you start a new chapter in your life,” she added. “It's fast, fast shot clock, but I think all of you know that's how I like to play. So, I think it suits my game pretty well.
“It's a fast pace, a lot faster than college, and you've to learn quicker because you've got to get your mind on Friday.”
Despite being one of the greatest student-athletes in NCAA history, Clark conceded that her transition to the WNBA will likely take some time. As she and the Fever gear up for their first game of the season against the Dallas Wings on Friday, the 22-year-old revealed the valuable advice she’s received for her rookie campaign.
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“Whether it’s people inside our locker room or people on the outside that I’ve talked to, just giving myself grace,” Clark said. “It’s going to be a learning period for me. But at the same time, still have the same confidence and belief in yourself that you’ve always had. That’s what’s got me to this point – just being myself. So, continuing to be me.”
Pressure to perform is inherently high for players drafted first overall, but expectations for Clark are seemingly at an all-time high. A media circus has followed the former Iowa phenom throughout her journey to the pros, with fans eagerly awaiting her Fever debut.
Aliyah Boston , who was selected No. 1 overall by Indiana in the 2023 WNBA Draft, sympathized with what her new teammate was going through.
“Caitlin coming in, being the player that she was, having the attention that she has on her, she knows the pressure that’s just placed on her, just naturally,” she said. “And her being a competitor. So I think for me, it’s not really about loading on to that, but it’s all about just making her feel comfortable.”
At the end of the day, Clark’s main concern will be to stack victories with the Fever - not pad her stat sheet. “She wants to win,” Fever head coach Christie Sides said. “She wants to win, whatever that looks like. Whatever she needs to do for us to win.”
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