Chicago Just three minutes into the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Sky, guard Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever nailed her fourth and fifth three-pointers. The Fever led by 11 points at 9:41 after her 33-foot space shot. At 7:12, her 28-footer gave the Fever a 12-point lead.
The Fever appeared certain to win their fifth straight game with Clark making these long-range shots and dishing out 13 assists to set the franchise record. But then, Clark stopped shooting. The rookie made one shot in the last seven minutes, and the Sky outscored the Fever 20-7 to win 88-87. Clark also failed to record an assist in the fourth quarter. “I mean, sure, you can wish it,” Clark responded to questions about taking more late-range shots. “I’m sure there was an opportunity for me or two to probably attempt another shot there at the end. But I trust my teammates. I’m gonna give them the ball every time. I believe in them.”
Clark went into pass mode following her explosive first quarter in which she drained two 3-pointers. The Sky managed to turn Diamond DeSheilds on Clark rather than Marina Mabrey. DeSheilds threatened to tip Clark’s shots or at least contest them well since he posed with greater length and athleticism to get past screens. Clark recorded six assists in the second half but did not score.
Despite the absence of points, Clark’s worth was indisputable. In the third quarter, she managed to dish out six more assists despite only managing two shots. Though she fell three assists short of the rookie record, it was her best passing performance of her WNBA career. She had excellent court vision. She nevertheless continued to choose her teammates in spite of Clark’s explosive three-pointers to start the fourth quarter.
In the last quarter, shots that had earlier connected to extend the Fever lead failed to find the hoop.
Christie Sides thought Caitlin Clark was going to take the shot
Ten seconds later, the Fever was behind by one point. After grabbing the rebound, Caitlin Clark was picked up in transition near midcourt. After passing to teammate Kristy Wallace, she cut off Wallace’s path to the hoop and decided to attempt a reverse layup. However, it went out of bounds after missing. Clark was doubled up top on the last play and passed to an open Aliyah Boston. It stayed outside.
Sides remarked, “I never want her to not be aggressive and take shots.” “After that missed free throw, I truly believed that she would take it to the basket or pull up right there when she went out in transition. For our team, that would have been a fantastic shot for her. However, at the conclusion of the third quarter, we had a 15-point lead. We need to be able to complete games more effectively.
Where to strike the balance for Clark
Two games ago, Caitlin Clark had an efficient first half with great passes. In the second half, some of those passes were more dangerous and rushed. On Sunday night, Clark’s elite passing went unquestioned, but her look of shooting did bring up questions. Passing to Boston was surely the right play. Sides thinking Clark would take it herself the play before does speak volumes though.
Maybe it was right for Clark to take it. Or for her to shoot more in the fourth when she already made five triples beforehand. This implosion loss stings for the Fever. But just as they grew so much during the now-snapped four-game winning streak, Sunday could give lessons for Clark. Or— at least give the rookie point guard thought to be better equipped for these situations late.
To be fair, Clark wasn’t the most efficient to begin the season and has lately turned the corner in picking her spots, scoring opportunistically, while staying unselfish. It should not be overlooked. The reason for the winning streak was because Fever starters were all scoring efficiently. The questions only arise because Clark was known for being an incredible 3-point shooter in college.
Yet she’s still less than halfway into her ROOKIE season. Back-to-back games where all facets of Clark’s game did not stay consistent for four quarters leave self-reflection and development. Passing for 13 assists and being questioned for not shooting more is the perfect case study. To add: Clark didn’t necessarily do anything poorly. The facet was not keeping up the aggressiveness. That’s tougher for point guards when three other teammates already scored in double figures.
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