When Indiana Fever standout Caitlin Clark crosses the mid-court line, she looks to the rim for a teammate in the post. “If not, you just launch it… hope it goes in and let it fly. That’s what the people love. So I got to give them what they want,” expressed Clark in a recent interview with CBS Sports. And that’s how Clark came to be loved for her logo 3s, boasting an impressive 34.4% three-point shooting accuracy. For those unaware, her three-pointers have been a significant part of her run toward the Rookie of the Year title. However, it’s not her ROTY honor that defines the signature moment of her debut year with the Fever.

During a September 29th interview with CBS Sports, Clark discussed several topics from her rookie year with host Jon Wertheim. “I remember we were in New York, and Jonquel Jones set a good screen on me, and I actually popped my eardrum, ruptured my eardrum just on a screen,” she revealed when asked to name a ‘signature moment of her signature season.’

For Clark, it was that screen from the Liberty’s Jonquel Jones, “a tremendous player,” that stood out. But why? “I think that just kinda speaks to the physicality of the league,” she added. She chose this moment as the most memorable of her season, more so than her assists, three-pointers, or even triple-double achievements. The ruptured eardrum was, in her words, “more memorable.”

This physicality may explain Clark’s impressive comeback after a month-long Olympic break. By the end of her rookie season, she averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and nearly 1.5 steals per game. On the other hand, Liberty’s veteran Jonquel Jones averaged 9 rebounds and nearly 1 steal per game. However, it seems the league’s physicality affected the rookie more than the veteran in her seventh season.

Clark found herself fouled multiple times in her first year

It all started with a flagrant 1 foul by Chennedy Carter. In that game, she was elbowed by Sky’s guard before hitting the hardwood. Initially, it was called a common foul, but after further review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1. A few games later, Clark faced another difficult situation. As the Indiana Fever rookie called out a foul against DiJonai Carrington, the Connecticut Sun guard mocked her.

Slowly but surely, Clark learned how to endure and fight back. An NBC article revealed Clark was fouled 46 times by early June. But she decided to let it not bother her. “This is a very physical game, and you’re going to get pressure. This is professional basketball,” shared Clark in an interview with AP that same month.

She has found offensive fouls surprising at times throughout the season, but she has also grown to give back at times. Almost getting into a brawl with DeWanna Bonner during the playoff run, for instance, or her 6 technical fouls, one against Victoria Vivians, where she not only exchanged some words but also went chest-to-chest.

“I do feel like I get held and get quite a bit of contact throughout the game… it is what it is… I can use my quickness a little bit better,” she said after the game against LV Aces. So it was all just a learning curve for the 22-year-old.