Fever head coach Christie Sides might’ve ruffled some feathers together with her comments explaining why Caitlin Clark needs to be named this season’s WNBA Rookie of the Yr.
Sides understandably campaigned for Clark after the Fever point guard made WNBA history as the primary rookie to record a triple-double within the Fever’s 83-78 win against the Liberty on Saturday — but she also reignited comparisons to veteran guard Diana Taurasi.
“I’m all the time going to make a case for my players. Firstly, she is essentially the most competitive human being I’ve ever met,” Sides said when asked if she desired to make a case for Clark’s ROTY bid. “I actually compare her to Diana Taurasi.
“She’s all the time looking to search out ways to recuperate. ‘How can I help the team? What can we do?’ … But she just desires to win. She just desires to win and to me, she’s going to be my [WNBA] Rookie of the Yr daily — daily.”
Although there may very well be a case for Clark’s game resembling Taurasi’s prowess to an extent, some have grown frustrated with the rookie versus the veteran narrative.
Taurasi, a 21-year veteran and three-time WNBA champ, faced pushback when she said that “reality was coming” for Clark — who was still playing for Iowa within the NCAA Tournament in April — when she entered the league.
AP
Clark, 22, and Taurasi, 42, shared a couple of moments on the court during their first profession matchup, when the Fever beat the Mercury at Footprint Center on June 30 — dubbed the “The GOAT” vs. “The Rook.”
Sides also explained that the Fever’s chemistry and pace have evolved this season because the team improved to 9-13 over the weekend.
“She found her rhythm tonight,” Sides said of Clark. “The timing for our players is convalescing every game… now that chemistry is there, that timing is there and that’s going to maintain convalescing.”
Clark finished with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in 38 minutes of play in Saturday’s win against the 17-4 Liberty, who’re tied with the Sun for the highest spot within the Eastern Conference.
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Clark was modest when asked about her historic night.
“Truthfully, I’m just completely happy we won,” she said in a postgame press conference. “I take lots of pride in with the ability to do lots of various things for this team… Obviously 13 assists, meaning my teammates made 13 shots off my passes, in order that goes to them. But I mean, I don’t know… I don’t know what to say. It’s great, I don’t know.”
Fever forward Aliyah Boston, who was the No. 1 pick by Indiana within the 2023 WNBA Draft, chimed in with: “She’s so humble isn’t she?
Clark currently leads all WNBA rookies in points this season with 16.1 per game, and she or he is the rookie leader in assists, averaging 7.4 per game.
Sky rookie Angel Reese is close behind, averaging 14.1 points.
Clark and Reese were the one WNBA rookies to be named to the 2024 All-Star team.
Reese — the No. 7 overall pick by the Sky within the draft — made WNBA history with a record thirteenth consecutive double-double in Chicago’s 84-71 loss to the Storm on Sunday.
The previous college basketball rivals helped increase attendance and tv rankings after Reese and LSU beat Clark and the Hawkeyes within the 2023 NCAA Women’s National Championship game.
Their celebrity carried over to the professional level and the WNBA has seen a large spike in attendance and rankings — a lot so, that multiple teams have moved venues for games to accommodate fans.
Clark and Reese will play on the identical team for the primary time when the 2024 WNBA All-Star game suggestions off in Phoenix on July 20.
