Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammates are experiencing both mental and physical exhaustion, according to Coach Christie Sides. This is a result of a grueling schedule that involved playing 11 games in just 20 days.
After the Fever’s crushing 104-68 defeat to the New York Liberty in the Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday in Brooklyn, Sides expressed her thoughts. Clark had a disappointing performance, only managing to score three points. Her shooting was off, as she made just one out of ten shots, including one out of seven three-point attempts.
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The Fever, who never took the lead, struggled with their shooting as they recorded a season-low 31.6% from the field.
“These individuals are not only experiencing physical exhaustion, but they are also mentally drained,” Sides expressed. “We have extensive discussions about this matter because their mental well-being holds great significance, and they are currently facing significant challenges. It has simply become overwhelming for them.”
“This is a unique experience that we haven’t encountered before. I am grateful for their consistent dedication and effort in striving for improvement.”
The Fever (2-9) have the second-lowest winning percentage (.182) in the WNBA, having played the most games in the league with 11. Clark’s addition as the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft has led to a boost in attendance and viewership for both the team and the league as a whole.
The team that ended with a record of 13-27 in 2023 and 5-31 in 2022 had fewer practices due to the jam-packed early season schedule.
“It has been quite challenging to maintain this level of performance, winning only 11 out of 20 matches,” Sides expressed. “However, this is the current reality we find ourselves in. From now on, we won’t have to constantly push ourselves to the limit. Instead, we can take this opportunity to focus on improving, allowing our team members to recover and heal.”
“This is exactly what we need at this moment.”
Sides expressed that her players are exhausted and their legs are worn out. In Sunday’s victory, the Liberty outperformed their inexperienced opponents, securing a 39-28 advantage in rebounds and a 30-18 lead in assists. Furthermore, they displayed impressive shooting accuracy, converting 57.5% of their shots.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton of the Liberty led the team in scoring with 20 points, while Jonquel Jones, the center, contributed 18 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. The Fever’s top scorer was Kelsey Mitchell, a veteran guard, who finished with a game-high 21 points. NaLyssa Smith, the forward, also made a significant contribution with 17 points.
Clark struggled in the first quarter, going 0 for 4. However, she managed to make a 3-pointer just 12 seconds into the second quarter. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find her rhythm for the rest of the game, going 0 for 5.
Clark, who has endured what could be described as excessive physicality since joining the WNBA, continues to spark discussions on social media about the way she has been treated by more experienced players during her first season.
In the third quarter of the Fever’s 71-70 victory over the Chicago Sky on Saturday in Indianapolis, the latest intense altercation occurred. It occurred when the Fever guard received a forceful blow, unrelated to the ball, from the seasoned Chennedy Carter.
Carter was initially called for a personal foul, but it was later upgraded to a Flagrant 1. In the WNBA, players can face suspensions for accumulating flagrant fouls.
The Fever have been proactive in addressing what they perceive as uncalled fouls from their opponents this season. They have taken the initiative to compile and send multiple videos to the WNBA office, showcasing these instances. This proactive approach will be maintained by the team moving forward.
Clark, who refrained from speaking to reporters after Sunday’s game, discussed the physicality during a pregame news conference.
During her college career, opponents took advantage of her “frail” stature and employed a more physical strategy against her. However, she later made up for it by adding muscle.
“It brings back memories of my early college days,” Clark reflected. “I believe my strength will continue to improve as I dedicate time and effort to my off-season training. It’s a matter of focusing on the right things and working towards them.”
“It brings back memories of my college days, but I also have a background of playing basketball with the boys. It has always been a physical and competitive sport. You have to find a way to stand your ground. It’s reminiscent of those times.”
“I also have the experience of growing up with two brothers, which involved engaging in physically intense activities that often resulted in blood, tears, and everything in between. Therefore, I can confidently say that I am well-prepared to handle any challenges that come my way.”
