Clark was clear in the key difference between college basketball and the pros.
to the WNBA last season. But once Clark did, she showcased the game that made her a force as an All-American at Iowa that saw her became college basketball's all-time leading scorer.
Clark finished the WNBA season averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists on 41.7% shooting from the floor and a 34.4% mark from three in 40 games. Her three-point percentage at the end of the year was respectable following a tough start to the season that saw her shooting less than 30% from deep. It was still plenty good enough for her to win rookie of the year.
A key reason why? How she's defended in the WNBA, which in her mind is a significant difference from how she was defended when she was at Iowa. "If you go back and watch the way people guarded me in college. It's almost like, concerning. They didn't double me, they didn't trap me, they weren't physical. And it's hard. It's college. A lot of those women will never go on to play another basketball game in their life. They don't have the IQ of understanding how the game works. So I completely understand it. And it's no disrespect at all. They don’t have the IQ.
The ball pressure was definitely ratcheted up once Clark turned pro, as she was frequently picked up full court defensively and guarded a lot more closely on the perimeter. But if Clark untaps her offensive potential, she can take her game to an entirely different level next season and beyond.Mike McDaniel is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since January 2022. His work has been featured at InsideTheACC.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Caitlin Clark Jokingly Names Her One Big Goal in LPGA Golf TournamentThe Fever star is set to tee off Wednesday morning alongside Nelly Korda and tournament host Annika Sörenstam.
Read more »
Scary moment for fans as Caitlin Clark shanks one at pro-amCaitlin Clark had fans ducking at The Annika pro-am golf event on Wednesday.
Read more »
Caitlin Clark Had Classy Gesture and Hilarious One-Liner After Hitting Fan With ShotCaitlin Clark had a specific—and relatable—goal for her start in the LPGA's Annika pro-am. That didn't go as planned, but it worked out for one lucky fan.
Read more »
Iowa Governor Pardons Caitlin Clark Inspired Turkeys Ahead of ThanksgivingCaitlin and Clark the turkeys have one basketball icon to thank for their Thanksgiving fate.
Read more »
Caitlin Clark opens up on turbulent, thrilling 2024 after being named Time Athlete of the YearCaitlin Clark’s revolutionary 2024 includes one more honor.
Read more »
Caitlin Clark Sent Clear Message About Her Biggest Motivation Amid LPGA Golf EventCaitlin Clark made it very clear what her biggest motivation is during an appearance before competing in an upcoming LGPA golf pro-am event.
Read more »