From being a senior in school and the star of the Iowa women’s basketball team that went to the nationwide championship, to then being drafted proper after and leaping into the WNBA season, loads has occurred within the lifetime of Caitlin Clark up to now yr.
The Indiana Fever star was left off the Olympic ladies’s basketball roster this previous summer time, a choice that sparked a variety of debate, however Clark mentioned the break throughout the WNBA season because of the 2024 Paris Video games was wanted.
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Caitlin Clark (AP Picture/Adam Starvation/File)
“We had the Olympic break, so I acquired a month off in the midst of the season as a result of we needed to pause the WNBA season as a result of, , the 12 ladies go and play within the Olympics. And all people else, you’re not doing a lot, so [I] acquired like a month off, which I actually wanted, clearly, as a result of I’ve been enjoying basketball for only a yr straight,” Clark mentioned throughout a latest look on “New Heights.“
The Fever began out 1-8 however rallied to complete 20-20 to make the playoffs. A giant purpose for the Fever’s late-season push was the improved play of Clark after the break.
Previous to the Olympic break, she was averaging 17.1 factors per sport. Following the break, she regarded rejuvenated, averaging 23.1 factors per sport down the stretch.
Jason Kelce requested how Clark would outline her whirlwind of a yr in simply two phrases.
CAITLIN CLARK SAYS SHE FIRST STARTED RECEIVING COLLEGE RECRUITMENT LETTERS IN 7TH GRADE
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever poses for a photograph with Lin Dunn and Christie Sides throughout her introductory press convention on April 17, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photos)
“I might say, like, I don’t know, life-changing possibly? All in a great way, like, I imply, issues simply change actually quick, as you guys know. That’s simply how the world works and, particularly with social media, individuals see a variety of your life, however that’s what makes it enjoyable and why I’ve had so many cool alternatives, too. So, it’s loopy, like wanting again at a yr in the past in the present day or round this time, like, I used to be simply starting my senior yr in school,” Clark mentioned.
“And clearly, , individuals knew who we had been, and folks attended our video games, nevertheless it’s clearly not on the magnitude that it’s now. So, like, life simply adjustments quick, however that’s what makes it enjoyable and funky and, , shortly began a brand new chapter of my life, too. Like shifting right here to Indianapolis, and really feel fortunate I’m nonetheless within the Midwest. I do know you [Jason and Travis Kelce] just like the Midwest.”
Clark mentioned she is wanting ahead to having the ability to have extra of a routine in her second season with the Fever after the short transition from college basketball within the WNBA.
HOW CAITLIN CLARK BATTLED THROUGH CULTURE WARS EN ROUTE TO HISTORIC 2024
Lisa Bluder and Caitlin Clark discuss throughout observe for the NCAA ladies’s school basketball championship sport between Iowa and South Carolina on April 6, 2024. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photos)
“Yeah, for certain, I imply it’s simply so in contrast to every other skilled sport, actually, from the standpoint of, so I performed within the nationwide championship, and I principally went to the draft proper after, acquired picked, and then you definitely principally pack up and transfer. Like, you’re shifting in April, you don’t even end senior yr of faculty,” Clark mentioned.
“And I assume for you guys, what was it, you go to the [NFL] mix, how lengthy do it’s important to put together for the mix, two months? And then you definitely get drafted, and you continue to acquired slightly time to get acclimated to the brand new metropolis, you have got camp, no matter. It’s not like that, like camp for us is sort of a week and a half.”
However Clark additionally mentioned there was a profit to issues shifting so shortly.
“I believe it was good slightly bit, too, such as you don’t have time to overthink issues, prefer it’s identical to, growth, growth, growth, growth, such as you’re simply onto the following. However on the similar time, you don’t, like, I really feel like I by no means actually ended the chapter of faculty. It was identical to you up and left, however possibly that’s good. You don’t have a variety of time to consider it, so I believe that’s positively the weirdest a part of, , ladies’s skilled basketball and clearly school basketball, too, is simply that change,” Clark mentioned.
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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever talks to the media throughout an introductory press convention on April 17, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photos)
Regardless of the short transition into the WNBA, Clark nonetheless excelled.
She received the WNBA Rookie of the 12 months, was named an All-Star and led the WNBA in assists whereas additionally setting a file for many assists in a season with 337.
Clark set the rookie file for many complete factors scored in a season with 769, and she or he drained 122 3-pointers in her season, which is the second most in a single season in WNBA historical past.
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