Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Stats Are Being Soured By Her Teammates’ Inability To Handle Slick Dishes

Caitlin Clark is not having the success that she, the Indiana Fever, the WNBA or their fans had hoped through the first three games of her professional career. It has been frustrating.

However, the No. 1 overall pick’s stats are being soured by her teammates.

Clark joined a team that went 13-27 last season. Indiana has not made the playoffs since 2016. The Fever have had just one season with a winning record since 2012. They have been pretty terrible in recent history.

As such, the expectation that Clark is going to be the star that she was at Iowa on her first day in the WNBA are unrealistic. Especially considering that Diana Taurasi was right about the learning curve.

It would be a great success if the Indiana Fever even make the playoffs this year.

Although an 0-3 start is not ideal, there is a lot of time for the pendulum to swing toward success and Clark is begging her fans to show some grace as a young team tries to get things figured out. Opposing defenses are swarming her every time she gets the ball. They are destroying her at every opportunity.

Despite all of that extra attention, Clark went 9-of-17 with 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists in a loss to the New York Liberty on Saturday. It was the best showing thus far— despite eight turnovers.

Here is where things get frustrating. At least two of those eight turnovers were not Clark’s fault. To record them as such is a questionable decision by the WNBA’s statisticians.

Clark delivered a beautiful pass in transition to NaLyssa Smith during the third quarter. Smith couldn’t handle it. Clark was credited with the turnover.

It happened again not long thereafter. Clark dropped a dime to Temi Fagbenle and was still slapped with a turnover.

Fagbenle caught the dish in stride, at the hip, and got both hands on it. How is that Caitlin Clark’s fault?!

The superstar rookie’s stat lines are not entirely as they appear…