Begin with a full-court pass. Start with something that very few people could notice. Begin with her feet just beyond the logo, escaping a trap, making a significant basket. Start with her eluding a defender, catching and shooting from the corner, her body leaning back in a shot that impressively defies mechanical norms.
Or realize that the starting point is not crucial. This is the allure of Caitlin Clark: Every path leads to potential highlights. (All the instances mentioned, and more, occurred in a single game earlier this week, where Clark’s Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream in overtime with a score of 104-100.)
As the WNBA season nears its conclusion, Clark is finishing a rookie year unlike any that came before. Coming off a remarkable college career, she entered the league under immense expectations, often viewed not just as a basketball player but as a cultural sensation in her own right. This brought intense scrutiny and attention, even from sources not typically interested in women’s basketball—or women or basketball in general. The overall impact was overwhelming. However, she has achieved something previously deemed nearly impossible given the circumstances.
Clark has lived up to the hype.
The discourse surrounding the 22-year-old at times strayed far from basketball, becoming detached from her on-court performance. Initially, she was discussed mainly as a marketing force or economic influencer (both roles she fulfilled: WNBA metrics soared, with Clark at the forefront. The Fever experienced substantial growth across tickets, merchandise, and other areas). She was also viewed as a symbol in various culture discussions, often dragged into debates barely related to her actions or statements. Her actual words and deeds seemed irrelevant as the focus shifted to projections and abstract ideas. The impact of her summer is even the subject of a forthcoming book. It’s no surprise that lawmakers from both sides will leverage her final regular-season game in Washington, D.C., on Sep. 19 for fundraising.
Beneath all the noise, Clark was simply playing basketball. Overcoming initial struggles—especially during a brutal early schedule for Indiana—she has become too remarkable to be ignored. Setting aside off-court matters, Clark is unfolding into the player she was anticipated to be.
Her core strengths from college at Iowa remain. While her shooting range is notable, her vision and playmaking abilities stand out even more. She has become more adept at handling professional defenses compared to her early weeks in the league. Defenses that troubled her initially are now less effective. Clark returned after the Olympic break with improved strength and court intelligence. The result is a historically potent offensive season: Scoring and assisting at unprecedented levels. No player in WNBA history has averaged 15 points and eight assists per game for a season. Clark is comfortably surpassing that, with averages of 19.1 and 8.4, potentially breaking rookie and league records. She could set the single-season assist record soon.
This success has earned her a spot to compete into October, requiring significant contributions from the entire Indiana team, not just Clark.
The Fever, initially shaky and disjointed, have discovered their identity in recent weeks. They have increased their pace and reduced their reliance on set plays. Kelsey Mitchell is excelling, Aliyah Boston is showing assertiveness in the paint and chemistry with Clark, and coach Christie Sides has made effective rotational adjustments. Clark, at point guard, has been instrumental in setting up her teammates for success.
The backcourt duo of Clark and Mitchell is now among the WNBA’s best.
Mitchell stated, “Me and Caitlin, as well as our group, I think we just found a way. I think our pace is kind of setting us apart from a lot of different teams. Because you like to get the ball up and down the court at such a high pace. And I think the way that we play, it just makes our games thrive even more.”
This marks the Fever’s first playoff appearance since 2016. Advancing beyond the first round will be challenging, especially facing strong teams like Minnesota or Connecticut. Yet, it is remarkable to even consider such potential, given their 3-10 start to the season.
Hull expressed, “I feel like any team that goes through adversity grows together, and definitely with our schedule at the start, we were forced to kind of build that quickly. Hopefully, by the end of the season, we’ll be able to look at that start and be like, That helped prepare us for the end… You’re forced to kind of block out the noise. Everyone has an opinion. And so it’s trying just to not let that creep in and stay strong together and have our circle be really tight.”
Despite the increased noise, Clark’s performance level has also risen. It’s debatable whether her rookie season is the best ever—Candace Parker holds a unique place in the records as the only player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year. With A’ja Wilson’s outstanding play, the MVP title is unlikely for Clark. Several rookies have scored more or been great defenders. Clark still has time to strengthen her case, but her rookie season has undeniably been remarkable in its impact.
Clark has adapted. The challenge now is for everyone else to adapt to Clark.
