Caitlin Clark’s historic WNBA season is set to continue as the playoffs begin on September 22. Seven of the eight playoff spots have already been secured, with Atlanta Dream (11-22) and Chicago Sky(11-22) battling Washington Mystics (10-23) for the final berth.
Phoenix Mercury (17-17) and Indiana Fever(17-16) clinched their playoff spots following yesterday’s games outcomes. For Indiana, this marks their first playoff appearance since 2016 and makes them the second team in WNBA history to reach the playoffs after starting the season with a 1-8 or worse record, following the now-defunct Charlotte Sting.
Clark’s Body Language Since College
Lisa Bluder, Caitlin Clark’s head coach during her four years at Iowa, was there with the program since 2000, achieving over 500 victories. Her longtime assistant, Jan Jensen, who is now the head coach of the Hawkeyes, recently spoke about Clark’s body language in an interview.
It’s no secret that Clark’s body language can sometimes appear negative, lacking energy on the court, which may affect her teammates and fans. Jensen compared coaching Clark to raising a child, saying, “It’s like raising a child; sometimes what you see is like toddler behavior,” indicating that, like children, top athletes who have this type of attitude need guidance and support, not just instructions.
Clark, who was the cornerstone of the Iowa program and now leads Indiana, must be a role model and leader for her team, even if her demeanor and personality suggest otherwise. Jensen emphasized that Clark is not what she seems on the surface; after four years of daily training with her, Jensen knows Clark is a leader, even if she doesn’t always appear that way on camera.
This situation is reminiscent of Lionel Messi, whose passive attitude often leads the media to underestimate his leadership qualities, despite his undeniable success. Not all top athletes are comfortable in the spotlight, even though they are frequently in it.
Clark’s Historic Season
In her rookie season, Clark has displayed a few “toddler-like” moments, particularly during the early stretch when her team started with a 1-8 record, leading many to believe it would be another disappointing season. However, things have changed rapidly, and Clark’s adaptation to the WNBA has been exceptional.
With seven games left, six of which are at home, where they have a 9-1 record in their last 10 games, the Fever could continue climbing the standings, where they currently sit in sixth place and would play against Minnesota Lynx (24-9) Clark favortie team as a kid.
Clark leads nearly all statistical categories among rookies and ranks highly across the entire WNBA. She leads the league in total assists (276) and assists per game (8.4), ranks second in minutes per game (35.4), and is ninth in points per game (18.7).
Yesterday, Clark earned her second consecutive “Player of the Week” award with averages of 24.3 points and 9 assists per game. Just a few weeks ago, after players returned from the Olympic break, the discussion around Clark was about her chances of winning Rookie of the Year.
Today, the conversation has shifted to her potential as an MVP candidate, though A’Ja Wilson, who leads the league in scoring with 27.5 points per game and ranks in the top five in nearly every category, remains the frontrunner.
Indiana plays today against the league’s worst team, the Los Angeles Sparks (7-25), in the only game on the schedule.
