Indiana Fever head coach says Caitlin Clark has to shoot more.
In the Fever’s Thursday loss to the Seattle Storm, Clark did not perform up to par.
Following a quiet performance in Thursday’s loss to the Seattle Storm, rookie sensation Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever has been challenged by coach Christie Sides to be more forceful offensively.
Clark wasn’t happy with her own performance on Thursday as she didn’t make use of her trademark long-range shooting ability, which has been one of her best attributes since breaking into the WNBA and then college basketball.
“We need Caitlin Clark to shoot at least 15 shots per game,” Sides said in her post-game interview.
This occurred after, according to ESPN’s own statistics, Clark attempted just nine shots in an 89-77 loss to the Storm.
“She’s got to get shots, and we’ve got to do a better job of setting her up, setting some really good screens for her to get her open,” Sides went on.
Is this a singularly bad performance?
With 12.2 field goals attempted per game and an average of 16.2 points and 6.6 assists, Clark has had a fantastic rookie campaign. Sides feels that additional on-ball opportunities for Clark are essential to the Fever’s success, even if Clark has been physically defended the whole season.
With 12.2 attempts per game this season, Clark has the highest average among rookies in the WNBA, ranking 22nd overall. She tried 15 shots four times in May, but she has only done it once in the last ten games. Her last season at Iowa, when she averaged 22.7 shots per game, stands in stark contrast to this.
Clark’s lack of aggression in the last two games has disappointed Sides. Clark tried nine shots during the Fever’s Thursday loss, while three other players made more attempts. Kelsey Mitchell, a fellow guard, tops the squad in shots per contest (13.4).
“I never want her to not be aggressive and take shots,” Sides said after the loss.
“I really thought when she went out in transition after that missed free throw, she was going to take it to the rim or pull up right there. That would have been a great shot for her, for our team.”
