WNBA legend Sue Bird recently discussed Caitlin Clark’s impact on the Indiana Fever and the broader league during her “A Touch More” podcast with Megan Rapinoe. Bird highlighted the Fever’s rise as one of the most dangerous teams in the WNBA and stressed that Indiana is not a team anyone would want to face in the playoffs.
Reflecting on Clark’s progression this season, Bird noted how teams initially made it their mission to guard Clark full court, trying to deny her the ball before she could set up offensively. This strategy seemed effective in the early months, as Clark led the league in turnovers. However, Bird observed that as the season wore on, teams grew fatigued, and their ability to maintain such intense defensive pressure waned.
Bird emphasized that guarding a player like Clark requires constant discipline, especially to slow down Indiana’s offense. “At the start of the season, everyone was in a frenzy over Caitlin getting picked up full court,” Bird said. “But as the season progresses, players get tired, and it’s hard to keep that level of discipline. Now, she’s not getting picked up full court as often.”
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Bird predicted that as the playoffs approach, teams will likely revert to more aggressive defensive tactics to disrupt Clark’s rhythm. Early in the season, full-court pressure limited Clark’s playmaking abilities, but now, with fewer teams employing that strategy, Clark is thriving—pushing the ball up the floor and making those crucial get-ahead passes. Bird expects to see a resurgence of full-court pressure as teams prepare for the postseason, where the stakes are higher.
Currently, the Indiana Fever rank No. 7 in the WNBA standings, positioning them for a playoff berth. With a 13-15 record and a two-game win streak, the Fever are gaining momentum at the right time. Clark, who is averaging 17.8 points and a league-leading 8.3 assists per game, has been pivotal to their success. Her ability to open up the offense has the Fever poised for their first playoff appearance since 2016.
