Caitlin Clark is already one of the crucial proficient gamers in WNBA historical past.
However the 23-year-old face of the league cannot do all the pieces, and Clark acquired it proper by prioritizing her long-term well being over the 2025 All-Star Recreation within the Fever’s house metropolis of Indianapolis.
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Clark is the captain of ‘Crew Clark’ and had been chosen to take part within the 3-point contest on Friday.
However she’s been coping with a recurring groin damage, and slumping by means of a controversy-filled second season that has been as disappointing as it has been erratic.
Eradicating herself from basketball actions throughout All-Star Weekend was her solely actual choice, irrespective of how badly the WNBA wished her on the hardwood.
“I’m extremely unhappy and disenchanted to say I can not take part within the 3-Level Contest or the All-Star Recreation,” Clark mentioned. “I’ve to relaxation my physique.”
She additionally have to be higher in 2025 as soon as she returns to full well being.
That is the fact when the WNBA turns her rookie season into a brand new 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal, and Clark follows up these league-changing numbers with profession lows throughout the board.
Whereas the Fever struggle off nightly battles and preserve attempting to guard Clark from aggressors, her statistics are considerably off and she or he’s struggled to remain on the court docket.
The 2-time faculty Participant of the Yr is presently under her WNBA rookie averages in factors, rebounds, blocks, minutes, field-goal share, 3-point share and free-throw share.
That has to concern head coach Stephanie White and the Fever, who’re 12-11 after a busy offseason, and path the first-place Minnesota Lynx by 7.5 video games.
Clark is among the finest girls’s basketball gamers on the earth, however she’s not an expert entertainer.
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It is on Clark, her workforce, and her surrounding choice makers to keep in mind that peaking in September is way extra necessary than making the WNBA extra money throughout All-Star Weekend.
The sight of Clark lately crying and clutching her leg was troubling.
So was Clark capturing 4 of 14, which highlighted her inefficient 36.7 share from the sphere this season.
She’s been even worse on 3s, solely hitting 27.9 % of her long-range makes an attempt.
Breanna Stewart had 24 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists to steer the Liberty (15-6) over the Clark-less Fever on Wednesday.
A’ja Wilson was much more spectacular for the Las Vegas Aces, scoring a season-high 37 factors and grabbing 10 rebounds in a victory over the Dallas Wings.
Sophomore struggles
A better take a look at Caitlin’s Clark second season
2024 stats
Factors: 19.2
Assists: 8.4
Rebounds: 5.7
Subject-goal %: 41.7
3-point %: 34.4
Free throw %: 90.6
Minutes: 35.4
Fever document: 20-20
2025
Factors: 16.5
Assists: 8.8
Rebounds: 5
Subject-goal %: 36.7
3-point %: 27.9
Free throw %: 82
Minutes: 31.1
Fever document: 12-11
These are the numbers that Clark is meant to be placing up in 2025, as she turns into the WNBA’s model of Stephen Curry.
How off has Clark been halfway by means of her second 12 months?
She would not rank within the prime 50 of common scorers, since she’s solely performed in 13 of the Fever’s 23 video games.
If she did, Clark could be tied-for-Fifteenth with the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard, who is not precisely a family identify and would not encourage followers to promote out arenas throughout the nation.
Angel Reese is placing up higher general numbers than Clark in 12 months two, and she or he’s extra environment friendly from the sphere than her rival.
Clark was sharper within the second half of her rookie season, so there’s nonetheless time for her to seek out her super-smooth contact.
If she carries the Fever within the playoffs, we’ll be reminded of why the previous Iowa sharpshooter made the WNBA must-watch TV lower than a 12 months in the past.
However for as massive as Clark has turn into off the court docket, she’s primarily well-known as a result of she’s a basketball participant who makes unbelievable pictures.
Via 23 video games of the 2025 marketing campaign, Clark hasn’t been ok to hold the Fever to a WNBA championship.
She have to be higher when she returns — and she or he must be wholesome, on and off the hardwood.