Getty Image / Luke Hales
In Caitlin Clark’s entire Iowa Hawkeye career, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer scored under ten points once, in her tenth game of her freshman year against Northwestern, scoring only eight points. The Indiana Fever guard is used to putting up gaudy scoring totals on a nightly basis.
While her scoring has understandably declined in the WNBA after her collegiate career wrapped up in April, she’s still been scoring, averaging just under 17 points per game coming into the Fever’s game on Sunday against the loaded New York Liberty. But, on Sunday, she had the worst game she’s played in at least four years, and maybe ever.
Caitlin Clark just couldn’t get anything going on Sunday, finishing 1-10 from the field, 1-7 from three-point range, for a total of just three points. The Fever were thoroughly beaten, losing to the defending Eastern Conference Champions, 104-68.
That’s the worst scoring and shooting game for Caitlin Clark on record dating back as far as anyone can find. For as explosive of a scorer as she is, it’s hard to fathom her ever playing that poorly. She did add five assists against just three turnovers, which is pretty solid. But, overall, not a game the rookie wants to remember.
That being said, after the events of Saturday’s 71-70 win over the Chicago Sky, I’m not sure anyone could blame Caitlin Clark for being a little flustered
Caitlin Clark took a cheap shot from Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter that went viral on social media and sparked plenty of discussion around the league. I’m sure that had her a little off her game mentally today, and who could blame her for that?
Why do none of Caitlin Clark’s teammates ever do anything to stop this from happening??pic.twitter.com/j2BGddbdGX
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) June 1, 2024
The schedule hasn’t done the Fever any favors, either. They’ve already played eleven games in the first 20 days of the season. Meanwhile, the defending champion Las Vegas Aces have played six. When you consider that Clark just got done with a grueling college season where she led Iowa all the way to the national title game, she’s probably pretty tired.
Caitlin Clark is simply too good to struggle like this very often. She will get her legs underneath her soon, and has four days off before her next game on Friday against the Washington Mystics. I think we will see a rejuvenated Caitlin Clark then.