3 Ways Caitlin Clark Is Taking a Step Backward to Take a Step Forward Towards Title Goals

Entering her third season, Caitlin Clark is no longer a rookie trying to find her way in the tough, physical, and ultra-competitive environment the WNBA offers.

In her debut campaign, she understood how much stronger the older players are. After initial struggles, she figured out how to counter those problems and delivered a stellar campaign.

In her second season, she used that information to build significant bulk, hoping it would be enough to absorb contact and drive past strong screens.

Eventually, she realized that the additional bulk strained her soft tissues, which led to her prematurely ending her campaign. At the same time, she observed from the sidelines how the Indiana Fever’s opponents play.

Armed with all that information, the 24-year-old took to this offseason with a plan in mind. Aided by the Fever’s coaching and training staff, she got to work ensuring her mind and body were ready for this season.

But this campaign brings newfound obstacles. Due to the widespread free agency, the league’s competitive balance has been restored, where quite a few more teams are ready to contend for the title.

With this in mind, Caitlin Clark has already taken a few steps back. The idea is that the decision will help her take the necessary steps forward as the Fever prepare for their goal to win the 2026 WNBA championship.

Caitlin Clark slims down from last season’s bulk

Last season, fans were quick to notice how much muscle Caitlin Clark had put on. Her arms were significantly bigger, and so were her legs and quads.

The idea was that the strength would help her endure the bumps she received, as well as help her with her endurance over the long season.

This time, she has slimmed down. Gone are the guns that became quite the sensation on social media, and her quads are slimmer. Admittedly, it might seem as if the Iowa native will struggle a bit against physicality.

However, with experience, it is expected that Clark will figure out ways to tackle that problem without having to strain her soft tissues again.

Strain on the body is the last thing a player wants as they hope to continue playing for as long as they can. If the likes of Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird could play two decades of both WNBA and overseas basketball without having to bulk up, so can Clark.

Playing off the ball to gain in-game rest

Not every player is the same, and unlike forwards or post players, Caitlin Clark does not have to deal with the extreme physicality they do. WNBA great Candace Parker had to retire earlier than she expected because of her constant battles with injuries.

The Fever superstar has a different problem compared to Parker or Taurasi. As a point guard, her primary job is to facilitate for her teammates.

That means she has to bring the ball up 94 feet every time she is on the floor. That tends to wear a player down significantly as the season goes on.

Add her other primary role of being a lights-out shooter and scorer, and Caitlin Clark could suffer from fatigue before even reaching the playoffs.

In her debut campaign, the Hawkeyes’ great struggled to shoot the ball to her usual efficiency. The idea is that if she can play off the ball for short bursts during the regular season, she can avoid getting burnt out.

That was the logic behind drafting Raven Johnson, even though the Fever signed another point guard in Ty Harris. With two guards and a potential third on the developmental spot, the franchise is doing its bit to afford some rest for its leading superstar.

Caitlin Clark to deploy observations from last season

One of the reasons Caitlin Clark is so successful both as a passer and a scorer is because of her ability to read the game and counter moves according to the scheme.

Most players spend their time observing and making changes on the fly. The superstar guard had the advantage of watching everything unfold from her part-time role as the Fever’s most prominent cheerleader last season.

What she can understand from the sidelines is different, and it is likely that the two-time All-Star and her coaches may have already spoken about it.

Those learnings might not show up in the regular season. But come playoff time, that added knowledge could become an advantage. All players go through film study as a way to prepare for a game.

But Caitlin Clark is primarily a playmaker and a student of the game. If she can use what she learned last season, she can guide her Fever teammates on the court whenever opponents throw their best at them.

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