When this year’s WNBA season tipped off, it was more than obvious that something special was on the horizon. The league was set to be invigorated by a remarkable wave of rookies, who had already made names for themselves with their stellar collegiate success. But one name in particular was on everyone’s radar: Iowa sensation Caitlin Clark. And why wouldn’t she be? As the No. 1 pick in the draft, all eyes were on her.

The 22-year-old guard was the Indiana Fever’s top pick, a clear move to strengthen the rebuilding team’s identity and elevate their standing in the league. Coming off back-to-back NCAA Finals with the Hawkeyes, Clark had proven her talent, even though a championship eluded her. Now, as the WNBA regular season winds down, the rookie guard has more than met expectations. Breaking records left and right, the 22-year-old guard has been the Fever’s undeniable X-factor. And her success? It definitely wouldn’t be possible without her consistent presence on the court.

Caitlin Clark yet to miss a game in her rookie season

The first-overall pick has played 36 WNBA career games so far. And she has been a fixture in the starting lineup every single game. What adds to this fact are her numbers on the clock, putting the rookie in a distinctive place. She has clocked 35.8 minutes per game, the highest for the Fever and well above her teammate Aliyah Boston’s average, who was the first-overall lottery pick in the 2023 WNBA draft.

In fact, the rookie is the only second player in the W who has played more than 30 games with an average of over 35+ minutes this season. If only someone is worried that such a heavy workload could affect her productivity, it has only been a silver lining for her. While being a top ROTY contender, she leads the assist chart with 8.5 apg. Moreover, she currently leads all the rookies in every figure except for rebounds and blocks.

What makes these numbers even more impressive is that she’s achieved them despite facing intense physical play and the occasional lax officiating. Well, her ability to stay injury-free despite being pushed hard on the court isn’t just a matter of luck; it’s the result of well-executed training. The rookie’s trainer was the one who gave insights into how she trained herself before stepping on the big stage.

How Caitlin Clark has trained herself to become a powerhouse?

Back in 2022, the ‘generational talent’ decided to focus on boosting her physicality. “She’s made strides over the year, but this [2022] is really where she made that biggest jump, because she was able to really dedicate the full summer to training,” stated Lindsay Alexander, Clark’s strength and conditioning coach at Iowa. The rookie decided to take the weight room seriously.

“I think she really did that this past summer, and realized that that’s what’s gonna take her game to the next level,” mentioned Alexander. Clark’s commitment paid off as she gained 8 pounds of muscle through a demanding regimen of sprints, squats, jumps, deadlifts, lunges, single-leg work, and ankle stability exercises. Her senior year at Iowa saw her starting in all 39 games, showcasing the results of her hard work.

As her coach’s revelation certainly justifies how Clark has built herself as an indomitable spirit, the point guard has brought that same drive to her debut season with the Indiana Fever. Despite falling to the ground twice on two different occasions, twisting her ankle, the Des Moines native continues to contribute to her team. However, such a consistent presence has not been the case for a few of her fellow rookies.

Injuries disrupt promising rookie seasons

While Caitlin Clark was undoubtedly the standout top pick, this year’s rookie class also included impressive names like Angel Reese (the Chicago Sky) and Cameron Brink (the Los Angeles Sparks.) Despite their strong performances, their rookie seasons didn’t quite pan out as expected.

Brink, who quickly made her mark as a starter for the Sparks, was averaging a solid 7.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. However, her rookie season took a tough turn just a month in when she suffered a torn ACL. The 6’3” standout from Stanford played only 15 games before being sidelined not only from the WNBA but also from her chance to represent the USA on the 3×3 basketball team in the Paris Olympics.

While Brink’s exit came early, Clark’s ROTY rival recently picked up a season-ending injury. Angel Reese, who was having a dream rookie season, was left with the only option of stopping after she suffered a wrist injury in the Sky’s season finale with the Sparks. The Chicago star is currently leading the rebounds tally and many considered her the only potential threat to Clark’s ROTY honor. She featured in 34 games before picking up that season-ending injury.

Recently, Caitlin Clark herself expressed disappointment with her fellow rookies’ seasons coming to an end. “Yeah, it’s obviously very sad. Anytime you see anybody go down with an injury, especially people that you came with into this league like Cam and Angel,” said the Fever guard. While injuries cut short the rookie campaigns of some promising players, Clark’s unwavering performance underscores her exceptional fitness and resilience despite giving injury scares twice already.