Basketball star Caitlin Clark had her first practice with Indiana Fever on Sunday. Afterwards, Clark revealed the big difference that she noticed between practicing with a college team and a professional one.
‘It’s Definitely Different’
“It’s definitely different, but that’s what you expect when you start a new chapter in your life,” Clark, 22, told Fox News. “It’s fast, fast shot clock, but I think all of you know that’s how I like to play. So, I think it suits my game pretty well. It’s a fast pace, a lot faster than college, and you’ve to learn quicker because you’ve got to get your mind on Friday.”
Clark is fully aware that there will be a learning curve when it comes to adjusting to the WNBA. She’s hoping to overcome this as quickly as possible. After weeks of media appearances and fanfare, she’s also excited to get back to doing what she loves. Which is playing basketball.
“I think that’s what I was most excited for, getting all that other stuff out of the way,” Clark said. “The draft was amazing, New York City was amazing, Los Angeles was amazing, but I was excited to get here and get back to playing basketball, you know, doing my job.”
Related: Megan Rapinoe Gushes Over Caitlin Clark – ‘I’m Just As Big A Fan As Anyone’
Indiana Fever Excited To Have Clark
Clark is set to play in her first WNBA game on Friday, when the Fever will take on the Dallas Wings. It’s the first preseason contest of the new season. Clark became known for her speed during her time playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and that attribute is something that her new team is already excited about putting to good use.
“I think Caitlin has a different eye for the game,” said Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 WNBA Draft. “You’re able to see how well she passes the ball and how well she shoots it. You see her communicating, you see the way she can find you, I mean her passes are tremendous. I’m like ‘OK, I’ll get a touch, just let me get down there’ just because of how well she passes it.”
Head coach Christie Sides is also looking forward to having Clark onboard.
“Her ability to space the floor for us is just incredible,” Sides explained after yesterday’s practice. “We’re going to have five players on the court that can shoot it, but her passing ability – you saw some of the passes she made. I’m more mad at the how many missed layups we had. I think we’re just not used to having those, someone who can make those passes.”
Related: Iowa NFL Draft Prospect Cooper DeJean Says He Can Beat Caitlin Clark In One-On-One Hoops
Clark Using Pressure To Fuel Her
Clark admits there’s pressure from the public to succeed with Indiana Fever, and she’s using this to fuel her.
“I think no matter what happens, there’s going to be expectations and pressure on my shoulders and pressure on this team to be really good. That’s how you want it,” Clark said. “We wouldn’t want anything else.”
“We want people showing up to our games, people expecting us to win a lot of basketball games this year, and I’m expecting myself to play really well,” she concluded. “I don’t think it’s anything that’s ever been different for me.”
To see how Clark is adjusting to life in the WNBA, check out her first game on Friday!