In the end, Caitlin Clark had to be more than just the No. 1 pick in the WNBA for the Indiana Fever last year. She also had to inject a new level of excitement and interest into the league, bringing it attention it hadn’t seen before. Additionally, Clark faced unexpected backlash from pundits, fans, and even former and current players.
Managing all of that was no small feat, but after her illustrious career at Iowa, Clark was up for the challenge. Along the way, she broke several records, not only winning Rookie of the Year but also setting a new WNBA record for assists (8.4 per game) and achieving the highest scoring average for a point guard and a rookie (19.2 points per game).
Clark set records for triple-doubles, double-doubles, 3-pointers, and even turnovers. It’s easy to forget that she’s just 22 and hasn’t yet reached her prime.
However, there’s no doubt Clark has areas where she can improve. She could become more efficient with her shooting—she made 41.7% of her shots and 34.4% of her 3-pointers. While her 3-point percentage is slightly above the league average (33.8%), her overall field goal percentage is below it (43.8%).
Given that she shot 46.2% from the field and 37.7% from beyond the arc in college, it’s clear there’s room for growth.
Caitlin Clark: ‘Just Scratching the Surface’
Clark is well aware of this, and in what feels like a warning for the 2025 season, the Fever recently posted a video of her back in the gym in October, already preparing with the season still months away.
In the video, Clark says, “I feel like I’m just scratching the surface. I feel like there are so many areas I want to improve in, and I’ll continue to work on that every single day.”
Team success will be the next measure of Clark’s impact, and it’s important to remember that the Fever started last season disjointed and inconsistent. They went 2-9 in their first 11 games, but finished strong, going 18-11 after that.
During that stretch, Clark became a more efficient shooter, hitting 43.7% of her shots and 36% of her 3s—something she can carry into 2025. Her turnovers (5.6 per game) also need improvement, but that should come as she adjusts to the physical demands of the WNBA.
It’s a daunting thought for the rest of the league. Despite everything thrown at her in Year 1, Clark is only going to get better.
