The top pick in the WNBA Draft is taking her time to shine

Caitlin Clark isn’t just any WNBA newcomer after joining the Indiana Fever. As one of the most high-profile signings in recent history, expectations are that she should be lighting up the league.

That hasn’t quite materialized yet with the Fever now 0-4 after a narrow 88-84 defeat to the Connecticut Sun on Monday, with Clark struggling under the weight of expectation.

Caitlin Clark discusses disappointing performance against the Connecticut Sun

The 22-year-old was the No.1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft after breaking the all-time points scoring record in the NCAA with the Iowa Hawkeyes, averaging over 28 points a game, seven rebounds and seven assists.

But while Clark‘s rise to WNBA has generated a buzz amongst basketball fans, she hasn’t been hitting those figures since arriving at the Fever.

The guard scored 17 points, three rebounds and five assists against the Sun – putting up the highest totals in the team – but they’re still a long way off the standards she set with Iowa.

Caitlin Clark realistic about her struggles

As a rookie, it’s no doubt that her lack of experience playing in a tougher league is starting to show. Over the last two games against the New York Liberty at the weekend, Clark was covered by their chief defender, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.

Not only is she 30, but her team-mates Kayla Thornton and Courtney Vandersloot, who took turns at other times to block Clark, are 31 and 35 respectively. They are effectively seasoned pros who know how to shut down a player of Clark‘s talent.

For the Des Moines-born star, it is clear she was expecting this step up in quality and identified where she is finding it difficult to make her mark in games.

“This is what you signed up for, this is best of the best,” Clark said on Saturday as she faced the Liberty for the second time.

“The physicality, I think the way teams are guarding – you go back and watch the film, and I’m stepped way away from the play and I’m still getting face guards.”