The Olympic break could not have come at a better time for Caitlin Clark, as she got some much needed rest after missing out on the Team USA squad. On her return to WNBA action, the Fever rookie dropped a stunning 29-10-5 to lead them to victory over the Phoenix Mercury.
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While the game looked easy for Clark, with her speed and passes proving too much for the Mercury to handle, she revealed that she needed to take a minute and call for a sub early in the game.
Clark’s impact on the game was visible from the start, with her long range threat leading to her teammates to get some early buckets in the paint. But it wasn’t as easy as it appeared to be, as Clark mentioned how she asked to be subbed initially in the first quarter.
“I called for a sub six minutes in, if I’m being honest. I was like, holy cow… I was like I need a quick minute here (laughing) because we were playing fast and then my defense isn’t as good.”
Caitlin Clark on getting back into live game speed after weeks off: “I called for a sub six minutes in, if I’m being honest. I was like, holy cow… I was like I need a quick minute here (laughing), because we were playing fast and then my defense isn’t as good.”
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It took a while for Clark to get back into the rhythm of the game initially. The tempo made her ask for a sub since she did not want to be a liability to her team on offense or defense.
While the Iowa star had no problems running the team’s offense to perfection while dropping big numbers, Clark was aware of her shortcomings on the defensive end of the floor and decided to not let her team suffer.
As for her overall performance after her early sub, CC seemed like a different player altogether. Her physicality on the floor while bringing the ball up and finding open teammates was on display all night. Clark constantly created mismatches and nailed long-range bombs to keep the Fever just out of reach of their opponents.
With a 10 point win over the Mercury, the Fever strengthened their hold on 7th seed, staying just out of reach of the Chicago Sky, who lost to the same opposition a day prior. With the playoffs just a month away, the Indy side will hope that Clark’s form will carry through the remaining games to secure a first post season berth in 8 years.
