WNBA: Caitlin Clark targeting improvement after latest Indiana Fever defeat - 'Be a little more aggressive’
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Published 28/06/2024 at 19:28 GMT+1
Caitlin Clark took a step back and reflected on where she could improve, following a season of immense progress with the Indiana Fever. Despite topping a host of rookie statistics, she still has a long way to go to match the numbers being provided by some of the other biggest names in the WNBA. Indiana coach Christie Sides also spoke about how the team can maximise Clark's big-scoring potential.
Highlights as Clark's Fever beaten by Storm
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is targeting more improvements in her scoring form, despite leading the way in a series of WNBA rookie statistics this season.
Clark tops the bill in terms of points-per-game (16.2), assists (6.6), field goals made (4.9) and attempted (12.2), but frustrations came to the surface after the Fever were beaten 89-77 by the Seattle Storm on Thursday night.
She mustered only three points in the second half of the 89-77 defeat, as Jewell Loyd stole the headlines with 34 points for Seattle despite playing most of the match with an eye injury.
And while Clark tops a series of rookie markers, she still has some way to go in order to match the numbers made by some of the league’s established guards.
Seattle’s Loyd (17.5) and Skylar Diggins-Smith (13.5), and New York’s Sabrina Ionescu (15.3), are amongst a host of players who average more shots than the 22-year-old.
"We played out of a lot of ball screens tonight," Clark said in quotes published by ESPN.
"So when you're getting doubled on a ball screen, you're always going to give it up. It should create an advantage for us 4-on-3 attacking the basket. But I didn't think we played too well out of our ball screens tonight.
"I could definitely be a little more aggressive to the basket. But I think I'm just going to try to take what the defence gives me and try to set my team-mates up for success, too."
Indiana coach Christie Sides spoke about the challenges which Clark faces in the division and where she and the team as a whole can improve.
"Caitlin Clark needs to shoot a minimum of 15 shots a game for us," Sides explained.
"She's got to get shots, and we've got to do a better job of setting her up, setting some really good screens for her to get her open.
"The way people guard her, it's tough. Once the ball is out of her hands, she is setting up the rest of our team for some really great looks. She's getting some pretty good looks [for herself] off the ball. But we like her on the ball, so we have to figure out how to manage the two."
Elsewhere on Thursday, A'ja Wilson top scored with 31 points in a 95-88 victory for the Las Vegas Aces over the Chicago Sky.
Meanwhile, DeWanna Bonner claimed 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Connecticut Sun overcame the Washington Mystics with a 94-91 victory.
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