Indiana Fever point guard Erica Wheeler isn’t worried about her job security after Iowa All-American Caitlin Clark declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft on Thursday.
Clark, who will forgo her senior year at Iowa, is projected as the WNBA’s No. 1 pick by the Fever in the draft, which will take place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City on April 15.
After Clark announced her future plans, one X user posted: “Somebody tell Erica Wheeler to pack her bags now!” — which Wheeler found funny.
Hahaha unfortunately I will be in Indy 😂 I promise you I am not going no where! how bout you pack your bag and come watch us play! 😘 https://t.co/v3rSQCPR3k
— Erica Wheeler (@EWeezy_For3eezy) February 29, 2024
Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty defends against Erica Wheeler of the Indiana Fever in May 2023.Michelle Farsi/New York Post
“Hahaha unfortunately I will be in Indy,” the 32-year-old All-Star guard wrote in a reply post. “I promise you I am not going no where! how bout you pack your bag and come watch us play!”
Wheeler, who was undrafted out of Rutgers and made her way to the league in 2015, replied to a number of trolling comments — while also promoting “the Clark effect” coming to Indy.
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second quarter at Williams Arena on Feb 28, 2024.Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports
Another X user wrote, “Erica wheeler talking bout season tickets….ma’am this finna be you in a couple days don’t get them hopes up,” and included a gif of when Seahawks safety Jamal Adams was locked out of the Jets facility in 2018.
“Hahaha ima make sure I send you a video when I enter the building! All summer!” Wheeler replied.
Hahaha ima make sure I send you a video when I enter the building ! All summer! https://t.co/nM4MnhWjrc
— Erica Wheeler (@EWeezy_For3eezy) February 29, 2024
The 5-foot-7 guard continued to remind others on X that she’s not going anywhere before calling it quits on her reply spree.
“Ok fr fr I am done!” she wrote. “My folks don’t like when I respond to yall but I be having to give yall some time cause I promise you it ain’t sweet over here! That little keyboard be saving yall.
“I’ll be back tomorrow let me finish answering text messages ! AINT NO FREE TICKETS.”
Ok fr fr I am done! My folks don’t like when I respond to yall but I be having to give yall some time cause I promise you it ain’t sweet over here! That little keyboard be saving yall 🫶🏾
I’ll be back tomorrow let me finish answering text messages ! AINT NO FREE TICKETS 😩— Erica Wheeler (@EWeezy_For3eezy) February 29, 2024
Clark, 22, declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft a day after she broke the women’s major-college scoring record with a 33-point performance at Minnesota on Wednesday.
She has 3,650 points and is 18 from passing LSU’s Pete Maravich, who holds the Division I overall record between men’s and women’s basketball with 3,667 points.
The 6-foot guard is currently leading the nation in scoring (32.2 PPG) and assists (8.7 APG), and has drawn comparisons to future Hall of Famer Diana Taurasi out of UConn.
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots as Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Janay Sanders (30) defends during the first half at Williams Arena on Feb 28, 2024.Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Clark is set to play her final regular-season home game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena against Big Ten regular-season champion Ohio State on Sunday.
With Clark expected to team up with Aliyah Boston — Indy’s No. 1 pick out of South Carolina in the 2023 draft — the Fever are hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Wheeler signed a multi-year contract with the Fever last February in her return to the team.
She originally played with the Fever from 2016-19, and was the MVP of the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game, her first and only All-Star appearance.
Indiana begins the season against the Sun in Uncasville, Conn. on May 14.
