“She is a true floor general,” Ticha Penicheiro, who sits second only to Sue Bird in WNBA all-time assists, said about Caitlin Clark. Even before CC ever stepped foot on a WNBA court, the whole basketball community knew she was a flamethrower from beyond the arc. But what really caught folks off guard was her passing. Yes, that laser-sharp court vision and the ability to zip dimes across the hardwood like she had eyes in the back of her head.
That’s why no one was too shocked when she shattered the WNBA single-season assist record in 2024. It’s not just about scoring with Clark, she orchestrates. She leads. And when she’s off the floor, well… things just aren’t the same.
The Indiana Fever made their preseason debut on Saturday against the Washington Mystics without their conductor. Caitlin Clark was sidelined with a leg injury and ruled out right before tip-off. And while the Fever did sneak out a 79-74 overtime win, everyone’s eyes were on the bench.
Not just to see her cheerleading antics (more on that later), but to wonder how serious is the injury? Because the vibes were different. As national analyst Rosaline Lee put it after the game, “She is such a floor general. She is such she is the X factor for the Indiana Fever. She leads the way. When they don’t have her, Indiana Fever looks like a train without a conductor.”
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 rushes up the court Thursday, June 13, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 91-84. Indianapolis , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGracexHollars/IndyStarx USATSI_23541921
That train stayed on the tracks, for now but going forward they surely need her. Sure, this Fever team isn’t short on talent. You’ve got athletes like Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, DeWanna Bonner, and Natasha Howard. And Mitchell can fill the floor general shoes for a bit. But the energy, the spark, that’s a Clark special. That’s not something you just replicate.
Still, shoutout to Sophie Cunningham, the new face in the Fever jersey this year. She dropped 21 points and carried the squad to victory when things got dicey. However when Clark’s healthy, Sophie’s probably be a spot-up 3-point shooter. But what’s the update? How long is Clark out? Well, she says it’s “just a little tightness.” That’s what she told reporters before Saturday’s game. “I’ll go through warmups and everything, and then they’ll decide if I’m gonna go or not. But it will be the medical team’s decision.” Sounds minor, right?
But Fever head coach Stephanie White isn’t taking any chances. She told the media, “The biggest thing is we’ve got to think long-term… It’s a long season, four more games than last season. So we want to make sure that we’re extra cautious and put her health and wellness first and foremost.” Basically, no panic, but definitely not rushing her back either.
Now, Sunday’s preseason game is huge, because the Fever is heading to Iowa City. It’s the perfect homecoming game for Clark. And Coach White did hint that Clark’s been making progress, saying, “She had a lot of progress in the last 24 hours… We’ll see how she feels after the workouts that she went through today.”
But again, long-term thinking is the name of the game. You don’t risk your franchise face in preseason. Whether she suits up to play in front of her howtown crowd is yet to be seen. For now, she is having fun, actually a bit too much fun courtside.
Almost teched up! Caitlin Clark gets a little too hyped
Here’s the thing about Caitlin Clark…even when she’s not playing, she’s still very much in the game. She was up and animated the whole night, bringing the same fire she would on the floor. But at one point, she nearly brought too much of it.
She even got excited when new Fever guard Sophie Cunningham got into a heated interaction with Mystics’ Kiki Iriafen after getting thrown to the floor. However, one particular moment could have cost her. Midway through the second quarter, the Fever forced a turnover with some tight full-court pressure, and Clark was pumped. Standing, clapping, yelling, you name it. But then, she stepped just a little too far onto the court. Nothing too wild, but enough for Aliyah Boston to gently tug her back to the bench.
Why?
Because in the W, if you come onto the court during live play without permission, that’s grounds for a technical foul. And Clark isn’t new to this. In 2024, she racked up six technical fouls in the regular season. One more would’ve led to an automatic suspension. So Boston wasn’t letting her risk, even in preseason.
Chicago, USA, June 23, 2024: Caitlin Clark 22 Indiana Fever speaks with Aliyah Boston 7 Indiana Fever during the game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever on Sunday June 23, 2024 at Wintrust Arena, Chicago, USA. NO COMMERCIAL USAGE Shaina Benhiyoun/SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xShainaxBenhiyoun/SPPx spp-en-ShBe-8P6A8511
This season, though, Coach White has reportedly made a deal with Clark. The promise is just two techs max for the year. Only two. Now, whether that actually holds up is anyone’s guess. I mean, this is Caitlin Clark we’re talking about. She plays with heart, heat, and a whole lot od passion.
But White’s made it clear…those techs can’t be momentum-killers.
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