The Indiana Fever’s matchup against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night featured two players who understand the pressures of transitioning from NCAA to WNBA amidst intense media attention.
Caitlin Clark, widely regarded as one of the most talked-about WNBA prospects in recent memory, faced off against Brittney Griner, a former college standout who quickly found success in the professional ranks, winning a WNBA championship in her second season. Prior to the game, in which Indiana emerged victorious with a 95-86 score, Griner shared her thoughts on Clark’s ability to thrive under such scrutiny early in her career.
Griner: Adjusting to the Spotlight
“I can only imagine the pressure she’s under,” Griner expressed to IndyStar Sports’ Kyle Smedly. “She probably can’t even run simple errands like grocery shopping without drawing attention. I’ve been there, and it’s a lot to handle.”
Hailing from Houston, Griner was a highly-touted high school prospect who went on to excel at Baylor University under Coach Kim Mulkey from 2009 to 2013. She propelled Baylor to a flawless 40-0 season and a national championship in 2011/12, where she also set NCAA records for blocked shots in a season and throughout her collegiate career. Despite facing challenges like a year-long imprisonment in Russia that sidelined her for the 2022 season, Griner remains a dominant force in the league and a WNBA titleholder, destined for a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Clark, aiming to follow a similar path to success, wasted no time chiming in after the Fever’s triumph on Friday. Speaking during the postgame press conference, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer expressed her gratitude for Griner’s influence as a role model for basketball players around the globe.
“Her presence in this league has been phenomenal throughout my time watching,” Clark acknowledged. “To hear that from someone of her caliber means a lot and serves as tremendous motivation for players like me.”
