Caitlin Clark doesn't mind calling out anyone — and that includes herself. While speaking to reporters following the Fever's 99-82 win over the Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Sunday, Clark admitted that she has one area she needs to be consistent within: her defense.
"I can be a really good defender when I choose to, when I work really hard on it and [choose to] not conserve energy" she said (Clark had several steals during the game). "I'm proud of myself in that regard and that probably motivates our offense. When I bring tenacity on defense, it helps our offense go."
caitlin on her defense this game:
— cc akgae (@clrkszn) July 13, 2025
“i can be a really good defender when i choose to. when i work really hard on it and not conserve energy. proud of myself in that regard and that probably motivates our offense. when i bring a tenacity on defense it helps our offense go.” pic.twitter.com/htwYkf3ZUV
Clark isn't wrong on several fronts — let's break it down.
Clark's teammates feed off her energy
Few things are more fun than a Gainbridge Fieldhouse game when Clark is on fire defensively and offensively. Her energy is fed into her teammates and into fans, who never hesitate to meet the moment when the Fever sets off on a wild run. That sense of urgency has been missing from some games this season, a reality that fans have called out (and sometimes pinned on coach Stephanie White).
But conversations about Clark's energy in a game often fail to account for the fact that she has missed a mind-boggling 10 games to two fairly serious injuries that simply required time to heal from. Now that she's healed, Clark still has to get back to 100% WNBA-ready shape, something that, again, just takes time.
Caitlin Clark's defense is impressive
Clark is also correct to point out that when she wants to excel defensively, she does — and that's a fact that has followed her throughout her professional career. Clark isn't an especially highly-rated defender in the WNBA, but games like yesterday's showed that she can be. As with most things Caitlin Clark-related (and by her own admission) it seems that she simply has to want to do it.
Clark will get her chance this week
The Fever will head up to Connecticut to take on the Sun Tuesday, July 15, and then will shoot over to the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn to meet the Liberty the next day. Clark is also captain of an All Star team this year for the first time — so this week she has three opportunities to showcase her defensive capabilities, if she so chooses.
The All Star Game in particular would provide Clark with a dynamite opportunity to show off her defensive skills against some of the best in the league. While she has A'ja Wilson on her team, Alyssa Thomas — largely considered the best defender in the WNBA — is on the opposing squad, and could make quick work of Team Clark if she gets the opportunity to do so.