She dazzled on the college basketball scene,
but is superstar Caitlin Clark ready for the obstacle she'll
face in the WNBA?
Caitlin Clark is one of the biggest names to get
drafted into the WNBA,
and despite her superstar success on the University of Iowa's
team,
going pro will result in some challenges.
Unsurprisingly, Clark was the number one pick by the Indiana
Fever during the
2024 draft in April for The Associated Press.
I dreamed of this moment since I was in second
grade and it's taken a lot of hard work,
a lot of ups and downs,
but more than anything just trying to soak it in
the basketball player added.
Obviously going to an organization that has in my eyes
one of the best post players in the entire world,
My point guard eyes just light up at that.
And obviously Aaliyah Boston has been one of my teammates
before.
I'm excited. I can't wait.
With May 14th being the Fever's first game of the
season against the Connecticut Sun,
all eyes are on Clark.
Sports analyzers are already predicting the outcome of her WNBA
debut and as Sheridan Gales Arena former WNBA player Cheryl
Swoop stated,
will Caitlin Clark be a good pro?
Absolutely. Will Caitlin Clark come into the WNBA and do
what she's doing right now?
Immediately? Absolutely not. Many believe that being a rookie is
one of the hurdles she'll face in the big leagues
and Clark will definitely have a lot to prove this
season. Caitlin Clark had the option of staying with the
hot guys at the University of Iowa for one more
season as the
NCAA allowed students from 2020 and
2021 an extra year because of COVID-19.
However, Clark opted to head into the WNBA despite her
disappointing salary,
which will pit her against more seasoned players,
former Hawkeyes team member Megan Gustafson told USA TODAY.
The defenders in the West are a lot older,
they're experienced and they've been defending superstars for years.
They'll know exactly what to do against her rookies.
Coming in from being collegiate superstars,
they have a target on their back.
The first thing vets want to do is make them
look bad.
AWNBA coach noted that while Clark went up against good
players in college basketball,
they don't compare to pros like Brianna Stewart and Audra
Wilson for ESPN and unnamed coach stated she plays at
a great pace,
but you still may see teams that try to speed
her up with the ball and try to push her
towards your rim protector.
Another coach shared. She will be put in pick and
roll situations where teams look to attack her off the
bounce on transition.
She will have to work hard to stay in front
of quicker and more experienced guards.
Being a rookie doesn't just mean Clark has less experience,
but her younger age also puts her at a disadvantage
when it comes to her size.
When it comes to Caitlin Clark's debut season in the
WNBA,
she could get humbled as size will matter.
ES PN's Andrea Carter pointed out that the female basketball
players are all grown adults who are bigger and stronger,
she stated, per the Guardian.
The hits are going to be a little bit harder,
the checks are going to be harder,
the defense is going to be more physical and the
players will be faster.
Clark, who stands at six feet tall,
has her height to her advantage,
but her thin frame puts her at a disadvantage against
more muscular women ahead of the
2024 pre season games. Clark admitted to the press in
a YouTube clip shared by sports writer Scott Agnes that
the physical aspect of pro basketball is going to be
be one of the hardest things to adjust to.
You know, people I'm going to be playing in this
league are like full grown,
very strong women and you know you're going to get
hit,
you're going to get bumped,
she went on to say.
People are going to defend you hard when you're driving
the ball at the court.
And I think just getting used to that physicality of
the game will probably be one of the biggest things
for myself to overcome.
The basketball star then admitted.
I'll have to get stronger.
Obviously, that's hard to do coming from college.