In terms of shooting numbers, Caitlin Clark didn’t have the type that accompanied her storied college career. She scored only 11 markers on a four-of-14 clip, and up until the last two minutes of the Fever’s visit to Crypto.com Arena, she made none of her seven tries from three-point territory. Still, as she answered question after question from media scribes in the aftermath, she opined that she had “a good game.” She was right, to be sure, as evidenced by the rest of her stat line the other day: 10 rebounds, eight assists, four steals, one block, and — equally significant — just two turnovers in 37 minutes of action.
No doubt, Clark made her assessment in the context of the Fever’s first victory for the season. They had zero wins to show in their previous five matches, and, for much of the set-to against the new-look Sparks, it looked like they would not be able to break the ignominious streak. In the second half, however, they displayed their potential; even as she facilitated the offense at the point and showed more activity on the other end of the court, the other stalwarts of the blue, red, and gold either lived up to or exceeded expectations. The result: an emphatic triumph in front of a record 19,103 fans.
As has been typical of post-game pressers since Clark’s arrival, an inordinate amount of attention went her way. Never mind that she was flanked by teammates Aliyah Boston and Temi Fagbenle. Not that she didn’t deserve it; the Fever needed her two treys in the clutch, taken from 33 and 29 feet, to keep the Sparks at bay. That said, the two frontliners with her likewise played starring roles. Which, in a nutshell, was why she took pains to share the credit where it was due, and why she underscored the importance of collective progress.
Make no mistake. Clark knows the Fever will rise and fall with her. And not only is she not afraid of the spotlight; she craves it. As she explained in giving context to her late-game shotmaking despite her evident woes, “I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I seriously think every shot I shoot is going to go in … I want to take those shots at the end of the game.” And for all her supposed inexperience as a rookie with a target on her back, those around her are only too willing to ride on her coattails.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
