Watching Caitlin Clark at Iowa was like witnessing Michael Jordan in his early days with the Bulls. The collegiate superstar soared effortlessly through her four years, making a massive impact on the basketball community. She drew tens of thousands to watch her play, and anyone who saw her could sense her natural competitiveness and drive to win. Yet, despite her dominance throughout her time at Iowa, few would guess that she faced growing pains in her first season—except those who witnessed it.

On ‘The Ringer WNBA Show’, ex-national coach Lisa Bluder talked about how Caitlin Clark had to acclimatize to playing team basketball. “It took a little bit of time her freshman year to learn how to trust her teammates,” Iowa’s head coach said, noting that they had to convince the star guard to put her faith in her teammates. “We convinced her, okay, now they see you in the gym, now you got to bring them along. And she did that, and she learned to do that through her college career.” 

Being such an explosive presence on the court, it is not hard to see why Caitlin Clark found it difficult to trust her peers. Her competitive desire has always been high, even from the grassroot levels. “It also almost seems like, especially in high school, a lot of that frustration kind of came from being the only one who might have been really, really angry, right? And that can be an isolating feeling at times when you care about something so deeply.” There were certainly things Caitlin Clark had to learn and unlearn during her time at Iowa. Despite the challenges, the six-foot guard never eased up in her efforts, pushing through every obstacle to improve.

Clark’s transition to the WNBA, though, was a lot simpler. Everyone at that level has a similar mentality to her, and an intense desire to win. Under coach Bluder, Clark learned the importance of teamwork. With the effort that CC is putting in, she might get a trophy sooner rather than later.

Indiana Fever’s free agency woes: Title run a pipedream or possibility?

With several blockbuster trades happening over the last few days, namely Plum and Griner getting traded, the Indiana Fever is looking to make something happen as well. This free-agency has been tough on the team, even with the star presences of Clark and Boston. Basically, players don’t like the idea of taking on a reduced role. Not even if it means that they might win.

On top of that, the WNBA is booming in popularity. Thanks to Clark and her fellow rookies, the number of eyes on the W has greatly increased over the last year. With the increase in viewership, the salaries are also bound to increase. That’s why a lot of the free-agents are refusing to sign long-term deals right now, settling for single year contracts.

However, the Fever just managed to do something that no one expected. They managed to extend Kelsey Mitchell’s contract, keeping their core intact. The thought of losing Mitchell was a scary one for the Indiana-based team, as their back-court would be severely weakened.

With Mitchell, Clark, and Boston, the Indiana Fever still have a strong chance to make a title run this year. The ball is in the front office’s court, however, as they have the opportunity to further strengthen the team. One thing is for sure: Caitlin Clark will need to elevate her game even more if the Fever want to make a deep playoff push. What do you think? Can the Indiana Fever reach the promised land this year? Only time will tell.