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Caitlin Clark had a whirlwind rookie season with in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever superstar struggled mightily at times earlier in the season. But she eventually found her footing, and by the end of the year it was clear that she was already one of the league’s best players.
But she would not have been able to reach that point without the help of her teammates, who were extremely supportive throughout the process. Perhaps no teammates was more supportive of Clark than veteran guard Erica Wheeler. Wheeler, a 32-year-old former undrafted free agent, was one of Clark’s biggest advocates at a time where it felt like nobody in the league was sticking up for the rookie.
“I put it as like — you know when you go to a different school, the first day of school you don’t know anybody? And you find that one person that says hi to you that becomes your best friend,” Wheeler said.
“For me, I just wanted to get ahead of it, because I know this transition is tough. Just being undrafted and being a rookie, it’s very unlikely that a vet will just take you in when you got the same position. And I think oftentimes people forget I’m a great person before a basketball player. So, for me as a big sister, I’m gonna take the first step. Just let her know we’re here, we got you. Whatever you need from me as your vet and even in the same position, I got you.”
Clark’s fans returned the favor, becoming huge Wheeler supporters as well and even picking up a dinner tab for Wheeler when she was on the road. Sadly, it appears that Clark may have to watch her “big sister” from afar in 2025.
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“My agent sent me a list for free agency,” she posted on Threads before adding “I am letting yall know now!Ima drop some hints but ima be real petty about it!”
That doesn’t exactly sound like a player who plans on staying with their current team. The Fever also have a new head coach in Stephanie White. So it’s possible White doesn’t want to keep Wheeler around. Although it would be a shame to break up the Clark-Wheeler duo as the former still finds her footing the WNBA.