Who is Kaitlyn Clark’s biggest competition for WNBA Rookie of the Year honors?
USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsey Schnell explains why Kaitlyn Clark has a lot of competition when it comes to the Player of the Year award.
INDIANAPOLIS – Caitlin Clark hasn’t been in Indianapolis long, but already, she’s got a to-do list involving the Circle City.
Of course his top priorities are basketball related. Clark, the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, wants to step it up Indiana fever I’m not interested in getting into the WNBA playoffs and collecting some personal accolades. He has been open about his desire to make the 2024 Olympic team.
Clark and Indiana tip off against the New York Liberty 7 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on Amazon Prime. The Independence One of the most talented teams in the WNBA, boasting two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and 2021 MVP Janquel Jones.
INDIANAPOLIS — She’s only got two points, but already, Caitlin Clark’s home debut is going better than her league debut two days ago.
Clark has three assists — two of them on 3s to Katie Lou Samuelson — and three rebounds, and looks very comfortable in a quarterback. After all, she has only one fault.
But it doesn’t go too far for the overall fever. New York trailed MVP Breanna Stewart by 11 points, leading 25-16. The Liberty outshot Indiana 16-8, and they’ve already forced four turnovers (three of them by Clark). For Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu already has nine points, three rebounds and one assist. – Lindsay Schnell
INDIANAPOLIS – Less than seven minutes into the game, it’s already getting stale.
Indiana’s Aaliyah was fouled by New York’s Janquel Jones, and the two tangled and exchanged “unfit for work” words. But a common mistake is called, so no harm done, right?
We will have to watch this match for the rest of the game. – Lindsay Schnell
Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever will play in front of their home fans for the first time this season. New York Liberty Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The game takes place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Liberty at Fever game will be televised Amazon Prime.
Liberty at Fever game Available for streaming Amazon Prime. The game is available on demand WNBA’s League Pass At the end of it. Fans can get League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.
- PG Erica Wheeler
- SG Caitlin Clark
- SF Katie Lou Samuelson
- BF Nalisa Smith
- C alia Boston
New York Liberty starting lineup
- G Courtney Vandersloot
- G Sabrina Ionescu
- G/F Bednija Laney-Hamilton
- F Brenna Stewart
- C Jonqual Jones
Clarke finished with 20 points in her WNBA debut on Tuesday, but it took a while for the rookie to get going. He went just 5-for-15 from the field in the Fever’s 92–71 loss to the Connecticut Sun. The top pick in the 2024 draft threw the ball 10 times, which is certainly insulting to her — certainly not the kind of double-double she wanted to record.
2024 WNBA rookies to watch
The 2024 WNBA rookie class was one of the most anticipated in history, led by Caitlin Clark, Iowa’s scoring event that rewrote the college record books. But she’s not the only freshman expected to make a big impact, and do so immediately. There hasn’t been this kind of attention and excitement surrounding WNBA rookies since 2013, when Brittney Griner, Elena Della Donne and Skylar Diggins-Smith joined the league.
To get you ready for the 2024 WNBA season, on Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsay Schnell offers a primer on the nine rookies she thinks will make the biggest impact this season. Read more from Schnell here.
Caitlin Clark inspires women all over the world, including a little one. Ahead of her first home game at Cainbridge Fieldhouse vs. the New York Liberty on Thursday, Clarke was spotted playing with Fever forward Katie Lou Samuelson’s daughter Aaliyah.
Clark was there too Dotted Signing pregame. – Sidney Henderson
INDIANAPOLIS – All teams will be listed for every game and tournament starting Tuesday, May 21, a WNBA spokeswoman confirmed Thursday. That’s a week after the 2024 season opens.
The celebratory fever that swept across the league died down a bit last week when commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the teams would begin full-time charters. While players — especially players who have struggled to fly privately for years — are happy about the upgrade, the rollout has been tough.
That’s a generous description.
On Thursday, Caitlin Clark will make her home debut as the New York Liberty play the Indiana Fever. But the Liberty didn’t charter to Indianapolis, instead making a business trip on American Airlines. They’ve also got a commercial flight home — a 5:30 a.m. Friday morning wake-up call. The Fever will fly to New York on business Friday for their Saturday game against the Liberty. Read the full story here.
Caitlin Clark wants to be like Steph Curry
INDIANAPOLIS — The summer before her senior year at Iowa, Caitlin Clark bulked up, adding eight pounds of muscle to her slender, 6-foot frame. As the Hawkeyes stumbled through another long season, she knew the extra weight would make a difference, and she fought off multiple defenders each night en route to leading the nation in scoring.
But she’s been busy playing in the WNBA this summer. This means that major changes in her body will have to wait a few months. When she gets in the weight room, Clark has one goal: Be like NBA superstar Stephen Curry.
“One person I’d like to see is Steph,” he said. “He’s strong. He may be small, but he’s very strong. That’s going to be important for me over the course of my pro career.
The physicality of the WNBA was a big adjustment for Clark through three games (two preseason and one regular season). Whether she has the ball or not, every second she’s on the floor she’s getting pounded, physicalized, and still getting used to it.
Clark is officially listed at 152 pounds, one of the Fever’s smallest players; Only 5-foot-7 Erika Wheeler weighs less at 143 pounds. Adding another seven to 10 pounds of muscle would go a long way for Clark; Guards with a similar build to her, 6-foot Grace Berger and 6-foot-1 Lexi Hull, check in at 160 and 155 pounds, respectively. Clarke knows getting stronger is a key to longevity in the pros, but accepts he will have to wait a few months to really hit that aspect of his game: “Coming into this season, that will be one of my primary focuses. More strength.” – Lindsay Schnell
INDIANAPOLIS — He made his regular-season home debut on Thursday, Clarke told reporters She is excited to visit the Indianapolis Zoo at some point.
Considered one of the best zoos in America, the Indianapolis Zoo hosts an annual black-tie fundraiser called “Jubilation,” billed as the city’s “most anticipated event of the year.” A new resident of Indy Here and there for calling: “Maybe I’ll hit Jubilation, I heard they’re getting new chimpanzees.”.
Told that his appreciation of the event would lead to him being the guest of honor, Clark laughed before joking, “Yeah, Jubilation’s going to have a lot of people who want to go,” noting how his presence is. Assist in setting attendance records.
Something else that could set attendance records: He’s playing this summer at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Fever. – Lindsay Schnell
Where Caitlin Clark goes, the crowd follows. The Atlanta Dream joined Washington Mystics And Las Vegas Aces In moving into their upcoming matches against Caitlin Clarke Indiana fever For larger arenas to accommodate a larger crowd.
Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and the Fever’s No. 1 overall draft pick, said he understands the importance of the hype surrounding him and vowed to keep showing up for fans across the league.
“People make a lot of sacrifices to come here or travel or spend money for their young daughter or son to see us and support us … I understand that because I’m that young woman,” Clarke said. said Thursday. “I’m very aware of it, and that’s why I never missed a game in college.” – Sidney Henderson
10 Bold Predictions for the WNBA Season
The 28th WNBA season ends tonight, so it’s time to start thinking about what’s in store for women’s professional basketball in the next few months.
Women’s sport has never been more exciting. With a star-studded draft class, its third straight championship and a team headed to the Summer Olympics to help boost interest in women’s basketball, the WNBA heads into its most anticipated season since the league’s inception nearly three decades ago.
What can we expect this summer? For starters, Kaitlyn Clark will lead the WNBA in helping make the Olympic team. Read Lindsey Schnell’s story here.
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