Like every other team in the WNBA, the Indiana Fever spent training camp and the team's media day talking about their plans for the season. The Fever didn't hide their biggest goal (winning), and were also open about changes fans might see on the court this season. Both Stephanie White and Caitlin Clark have noted that the plan is to keep Clark playing off the ball during parts of the game — something that some fans have had pretty big reactions to.
It's understandable, to a degree, that fans who have watched Clark since college are used to seeing her play one way and expect to see that continue. And for the most part, it will. Clark will still be running the court and directing traffic, but she'll also spend more time focused on nurturing other skills. That's part of development in any job — you don't just stick to what you know, you pick up new skills to advance and become better.
Playing off the ball isn't something Clark has spent much time doing, which explains why she wants to. And, if anything, fans should be encouraged by the fact that she's hungry to really develop her game as fully as possible, and to be as talented a player as she can. It would be far easier for her to stick with what she knows, but that probably would stop her from growing into the kind of player she can truly be.
Playing off the ball could also help keep Clark healthy and in the game the entire season, something that should be a priority for anyone who enjoys Fever basketball. She missed a ton of games last season, and though the Fever performed strongly and made it to the playoffs — they even got very close to unseating the Aces, who went on to win the Championship — it's not too hard to imagine that their path could have been easier of Clark was on the court.
Clark might make hitting big shots over the head of a defender look easy, or she might make evading defenders while trying to create a shot seem like something any of us can do, but the reality is that the WNBA is a very physical league and the way Clark plays is taxing. It takes a toll on the body, something fans saw on full display last year.
If Coach White proved anything last year, it's that she understands the Fever and knows how to get the job done. Perhaps now is the time for fans to sit back and let her take over for a while.
Add us as a preferred source on Google