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Former WNBA all-star Odyssey Sims was effusive in her praise for rookie superstar Caitlin Clark after the two squared off earlier this week.
Sims was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft and has established herself as one of the league’s best players, making the All-Star Game in 2019 and being named second-team All-WNBA.
Despite she and her Dallas Wings teammates coming out with a 101-93 victory, Clark was near unstoppable, scoring 24 points to go along with a league-record 19 assists.
Afterward, Sims had nothing but good things to say.
Odyssey Sims (@Lucky_Lefty0) gives her flowers to Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22), the selfless play from the @IndianaFever rookie, her contributions to the game and her high level play even as a @WNBA rookie.#WNBA | #INDvsDAL | #FeverRising | #VoltUp | @ThePodiumFinish pic.twitter.com/xUg15Epv1l
— Rob Tiongson (@RobTiongson) July 18, 2024
Odyssey Sims Gives Caitlin Clark Her Flowers After Monster Performance
“Everybody’s been watching Caitlin. She’s a great player,” Sims said. “She’s playing at a very high level. Especially with her assists. Like, there was a lot of shots she turned down because she was looking for her teammates. I mean, that just speaks volumes of how she is as a player.
“I don’t know her as a person. But she’s a great player. What she does, what she’s been doing since game one ’til now, I got nothing but respect for her. She did her thing tonight. Just awesome, all around.”
Sims’ comments continue the trend of WNBA vets beginning to back Clark. Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young made waves recently when she went out of her way to stop a game after Clark fell awkwardly.
“Yeah, I think…just doing the right thing — just making sure she’s good…and just checking on her. I gave her a little tap…make sure she’s cool,” Young said of the moment. “Because at the end of the day, you know we just want to play this game, have fun, be healthy…just giving her a little bit of time…to reset, regroup and just make sure she’s okay.”
Sims’ and Young’s comments come after much criticism of WNBA vets from fans who felt they unfairly targeted Clark.
Whether that criticism changed their attitudes only they will know. But it’s also come at a time where Clark has seemingly taken her game to another level, showing that she’ll be a star in the league for years to come.