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Caitlin Clark’s Teammate Explains How She Is Still Crucial To The Fever’s Success On An Off Night

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Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark would have finished with a double-double in her second WNBA preseason game if some of her Indiana Fever teammates converted some easy layups off of the assist. And yet she still came close to a triple-double.

Clark recorded 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Although her stat line was pretty well-rounded, it was not her best game as a scorer. She went just 4-of-12 from the field and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc in front of an unprecedented crowd of 13,000 (!!) fans.

Despite the poor shooting performance, Clark’s impact cannot be understated. Indiana won the game by three. Its entire offense now moves through the No. 1 overall pick.

Caitlin Clark is a catalyst!

Clark tried to downplay her “off” night during the postgame press conference but her teammate, NaLyssa Smith, would not let her. The third-year veteran scored a game-high 21 points and attributed her success to the rookie.

Smith, who took Clark under her wing to prove Diana Taurasi wrong, made it clear that the strong outing stemmed from the attention that the defense is forced to give the greatest scorer in college basketball history. Even when she’s not hitting shots like she normally does, Clark opens up the offense for Smith and the rest of the Fever.

Indiana came back from a 15-point deficit in the second quarter, took the lead with 4:57 left in the third, and never looked back. It was a testament to the Fever’s ability to win without their star on her ‘A’ game.

That notion of an “off night” for Clark is especially wild when you remember that she came four rebounds and two assists shy of a triple-double… that’s a great line for someone who was not at her best. Especially considering that her focus was clearly on the players around her.

The 22-year-old guard did not quite have her stroke on Thursday night. And yet, Clark was still hitting the coolest shots that didn’t count. Even her misses go in!

Indiana is 1-1 in the preseason. It will get its regular season underway on May 14.

If the Fever can continue to find ways to win when Clark is not lights out from beyond the arc, they are in a real position to contend. Especially if their superstar rookie continues to facilitate for those around her!