Caitlin Clark has only played 13 games in her sophomore season. For the first time in her career, she has had to deal with injuries that cost her valuable time on the court with her teammates. Despite her absence, her team is putting together a successful season. After a rocky start without their star point guard, the Fever climbed in the standings, surpassing the Storm, Aces, and Valkyries to claim fifth place.
That success without Clark has prompted some people to claim that the team was better without her. Carolyn Peck, for example, said in early July that the Fever were more dangerous without a ball-dominant guard like Clark.
Candace Parker doesn’t agree. The former WNBA star spoke about Clark’s impact on the Fever on her new podcast with Aliyah Boston, giving a simple response to the take that the Fever are better without Clark.
“They’re not better without Caitlin, but I do feel like in times like this, different people step up just like Natasha Howard stepped up in the Commissioner’s Cup,” Parker said on the latest episode of Post Moves. “It can be a growth opportunity for teams. Caitlin is one of those people that has a high IQ, so I know she’s watching and I know she’s going to come back and make you all that much better.“
Several players are stepping up in Clark’s absence
At first, playing without Clark was a challenge. By now, the Fever have found a solid rhythm, winning seven of their last ten games. Kelsey Mitchell has consistently been the Fever’s top scorer, regularly putting up around twenty points and even cracking the 30-point mark a few times. The Fever needed someone to step up as a star-level scorer, and Mitchell has delivered without question, making a solid case for an All-WNBA Team selection.
Mitchell isn’t the only Fever who has stepped up, however. Natasha Howard has also been big, recording several double-doubles. Sophie Cunningham’s and Aliyah Boston’s production has also been up. Even Aari McDonald, who first joined the Fever on a hardship contract, has had her big moments—none bigger than her 27 points in the Fever’s win over Phoenix.
With Clark out, the Fever have gotten a chance to see what everyone else on the roster can bring to the table. Other players got a chance to fill bigger roles and expand their skill sets. That will only help the Fever when the playoffs roll around.
Fans are still waiting for a clear timeline for Clark’s return
Since the Fever are doing so well without Clark, they have the luxury of not rushing her back to the court and giving her all the time she needs to get ready for the playoffs. So, fans might not be able to watch Clark play again until close to the end of the season and the start of the playoffs. In late July, ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported that Clark may be out until late August. That is slowly but surely approaching.