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There are few names in sports bigger than Indiana Fever superstar guard Caitlin Clark. Ever since her college days with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark has been on her way to becoming a global sports icon.
Since taking the WNBA by storm last season as the No. 1 overall pick, Clark has not disappointed. However, in her second professional season, the wear and tear is starting to show.
Clark has now been forced to miss time with multiple injuries. First, she dealt with a quad injury that kept her out for a couple of weeks. Now, she’s recovering from a groin injury and has missed more time.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
In order to play at the level she has shown through her first two years, Clark has had to endure a lot of physical stress. Whether that stress comes from hard fouls or simply having to carry the weight of the team on her shoulders, it hasn’t been easy.
Read more: Fever Head Coach Opens Up Following Indiana’s Big Roster Decision
That was called out by one WNBA legend recently.
Sue Bird is one of the best players to ever play in the league. She spoke out about the biggest problem that Clark is facing with the Fever currently.
“It’d be really beneficial for her if she had players around her who could create shots for her,” Bird said. “She has to create a lot of her own shots, but she’s also creating for her teammates—that’s where Aari McDonald might have some impact.”
Without Clark on the floor, Indiana has struggled. At times, the team looks completely lost without her.
Bird is 100 percent correct. Clark has to create her own shot and shots for her teammates. While that is reasonable to expect from a prolific guard, Clark could still use some help to take pressure off of her.
Read more: Fever Star Caitlin Clark Ruled Out With New Concerning Injury
So far this season, the Fever have gone 8-8. At the beginning of the year, they were considered a potential WNBA Finals contender. Those expectations have cooled off some, but the potential is still there for Indiana to find its stride with a healthy version of Clark on the floor.
Hopefully, she is able to get back to full health and stay that way. In order to make that happen, Clark may need more help to reduce some of the stress and responsibility that has been placed on her shoulders.
Next up for the Fever will be a Tuesday night matchup on the road against the Minnesota Lynx. There has been no indication about whether or not Clark will be able to play in that game.
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