Caitlin Clark’s first season in the WNBA felt like a fever dream.
Clark was named the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year after a stellar freshman campaign that saw her shatter numerous records, including the single-season rookie scoring record (769), single-season assists record (337) and single-game assists record (19), while leading the WNBA in assists (8.4 per game) and made 3s (122). Clark earned her first All-Star nod and was the first rookie to make the All-WNBA Team since Candace Parker in 2008.
Despite scorching the league in her first year, Clark has barely scratched the surface and has her eyes on an elusive championship.
‘Being a rookie in the WNBA is so unique … from ending your college career and then your becoming a professional immediately,’ Clark told USA TODAY. ‘Just getting a year under my belt was the best thing for me.’
When asked at media day what success means this season, Clark definitively said ‘a championship.’
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What’s next for Clark? Here’s a look at what to expect in year two:
Caitlin Clark adds strength to repertoire
This offseason provided Clark some much-needed rest. Clark continuously played basketball for nearly a year straight as she transitioned from college to the pros. She wrapped up her collegiate career at Iowa — where she set the NCAA’s all-time scoring record — in April 2024 after leading the Hawkeyes to their second consecutive national championship game appearance. Clark was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever one week later and made her WNBA debut in May 2024. Her team played 11 games in 20 days.
‘I haven’t really had (an offseason) in a couple years now, because my last year going into Iowa we took our foreign trip,’ Clark told USA TODAY. ‘So that was really nice just to kind of have that reset, get back to working on things I want to get (better at) and add some muscle to my frame. I’m excited for year two.’
Clark opted not to play competitive basketball this offseason, bypassing playing overseas or in the inaugural season of Unrivaled. She hit the gym and weight room to develop her game.
The results have been on display, especially during the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament in March. Clark significantly bulked up and her new muscles became a topic of conversation across social media.
‘I think it’s funny,’ Clark told USA TODAY about the commentary surrounding her biceps. ‘People see one photo and kind of run with it. But I appreciate it. I worked really hard so at least they noticed.’
Clark found herself on the receiving end of a lot of physicality in her rookie season, which opponents used as a means to slow her down and knock her off balance. But Clark’s added strength and muscle mass should help her push off pesky and handsy defenders.
‘I feel like everyone talks about it. I see it on social media. They’ll be like, ‘Caitlin has such strong muscles.’ Don’t tell her I said that,’ Aliyah Boston said, when asked about the biggest difference she sees in Clark this year. ‘I think her strength. She gets in the paint and she’s able to bully her way in and finish strong at the basket. I mean, everyone talks about her 3-point shooting and we’ve all seen her passing, but I think her ability to get downhill and really just stay on balance and score the ball. I think it’s gonna be great this year, too.’
Caitlin Clark has pieces. Expect deep playoff run.
The Fever are legit championship contenders and are positioned to potentially win their first WNBA title since 2012.
The Fever started the 2024 WNBA season 11-15, but Indiana found its groove after the All-Star break and closed the season on a 9-5 run to secure the team’s best record (20-20) and first playoff berth since 2016. Although Indiana was swept in the first round of the WNBA playoffs by the Connecticut Sun, the Fever showed promise and offered a peek at their potential.
The franchise responded by going all in — throwing out blueprints for a years-long rebuild and signaling the team’s desire to win now — with a series of moves. The Fever upgraded their roster, coaching staff and front office to complement the young core of Clark, Boston (the 2023 Rookie of the Year) and Kelsey Mitchell.
Kelly Krauskopf returned as the Fever’s president in September. Former Sun head coach Stephanie White was hired in November to succeed Christie Sides. The Fever re-signed Mitchell in January and added defensive prowess and depth to their roster with the additions of six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner, former Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, Brianna Turner and Sydney Colson.
The improvements will only make it easier for Clark to thrive.
‘It’s up to us to be able to put it all together,’ Clark said.
Bonner added: ‘Being on this side of the ball with (Clark) is a lot more fun than guarding her, that’s for sure. She just put everyone in position. We play off her and her energy.’
Caitlin Clark’s bag got bigger with a floater
Clark is known for her signature 3s — she led the league last season with 3.1 made 3-pointers per game and knocked down a WNBA-high 122 3-pointers — but her opponents will now have another element to try to defend. Not only did Clark bulk up in the lab, she added a floater to her game.
Alongside Fever athletic performance coach Sarah Kessler, Clark worked with new Indiana player development coach Keith Porter to tune up her game and master her midrange shot. Expect her to use it often.
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