WNBA and the Indiana Fever are setting up Caitlin Clark to rule women’s basketball

Caitlin Clark did not get the proper welcome to the WNBA. At least that is what is being talked about throughout the entire basketball community. For someone who was supposed to light up the league with her scoring, it has been nothing but a downer.

Critics are blaming the league for giving her the toughest opening schedule any rookie could face. Those same critics are also calling out her team, the Indiana Fever, for fielding a team full of unproven players.

While the logic behind the schedule is that Clark will play against championship contenders in 7 out of her first 9 games, two of those games have already played out, leading to an average deficit of 28.5 points for those teams. 

A tough pill to swallow for a player who used to beat teams by those numbers in her record-setting college season. The all-time leading scorer in NCAA D1 college basketball regardless of gender also endured her first single-digit scoring game since her freshman year.

The WNBA, with its tough schedule and an Indiana Fever team that has young, unproven players, could actually be a blessing in disguise for their transcendent superstar.

Caitlin Clark to learn through the pain of losing

The WNBA is the best women’s basketball league in the world. In a league where restrictive roster spots mean that most of the draftees do not even get to play a game. 

Therefore, many rookies come into training camp with the first intention of locking a roster spot. On the flip side, it also means that those who are already playing on the team will push to cement their job.

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes pointed this out. Swoopes and Diana Taurasi came under a lot of flak from basketball fans for even suggesting that Clark would struggle.

However, the first two games have proved that they were not wrong. Clark faced the toughest defenses she has ever endured in her first two games. A scenario that is set to continue in the coming days.

But the good part of it is that the 22-year-old can learn and adjust her playing style. She can figure out how to dissect WNBA-level defenses as she plays against them. Nothing beats experience. She will be gaining a lot of it as she continues to get hounded by opponents. Eventually, the sheer will to be back at her best will push her to be better.

Had she faced easier teams early in her career, it could have led to continued success. Something that could have derailed her development to become the best in the league. Almost all of the greats have endured losing seasons to become the championship-winning legends that they are now eventually.

Sue Bird had a similar start to a legendary career

When Sue Bird first came into the league, she was the reigning AP College Player of the Year, just like Clark. Bird was also the best point guard to come through college for a long time, just like Clark.

She was also accustomed to winning and being a part of two NCAA championship teams. However, in her first season with the Seattle Storm, Bird lost six of their first 10 games.

Naturally, she was losing her confidence due to the losses. She was so used to winning that she could not handle the mental side of losing games. Despite knowing that it is a new league and her team might not be one of the best.

This situation could most likely repeat itself for Clark this year. However, the legend revealed later on that she stopped blaming situations and decided to make changes to help her team win. The Storm went on to post a 13-9 record since then to clinch a playoff spot.

There is no guarantee that Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever will be able to turn things around the way Sue Bird and her Seattle Storm did.

However, the silver lining is that Clark can learn from what the legend endured to eventually become one of the all-time greats. There is one more similarity between them, which could indicate what is to come.

The Indiana Fever have the best young core in the WNBA

Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson were back-to-back No. 1 picks for the Seattle Storm. The duo went on to win two WNBA championships together.

Caitlin Clark is the 2nd straight No. 1 overall pick for the Indiana Fever after Aliyah Boston. Boston is the reigning Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in her first season. History suggests that a team with two back-to-back No. 1 overall picks goes on to win WNBA titles.

Although it could be dismissed as just a coincidence, the Fever are better than those teams. They currently have the deepest group of young players.

Not just young players who are roster extras. Rather good players who are poised to make leaps in their development as they continue to play. The best way to construct a championship-winning roster is to have good draft picks who can play and grow together.

It seems the Fever have picked the players to do exactly that. They have good young players at every position and on the bench. They can learn from the veterans, learning the nuances as they continue to develop. But the best part of a young core is chemistry. Chemistry brings success, as any team that has won a championship can assert.

So, from all this, it is evident that the league as well as her team have set up Caitlin Clark to dominate women’s basketball for a long, long time. It would be foolish to think otherwise, considering they know what she can do to uplift the sport to new heights.

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