Fever coach Stephanie White explains why she’s not concerned about Caitlin Clark’s continued shooting slump

The Caitlin Clark shots crisis continued on Friday, but the Indiana fever defeat did not do so. Although Clark was limited to 12 out of 5 out of 17 on the field, and 1 in 7 to 3 points, the fever ran to Atlanta’s dream in the second half to ensure a 99-82 victory and return to 0.500 in the season at 10-10.

For the season, Clark now draws 37.6% on the field overall and 28.9% behind the arc. These two brands represent a major drop in last season. Among the 35 players taking at least 10 shots per game, the percentage of goals on the Clark field ranks 31st, and among the 14 players taking at least five 3 points per game, the percentage of 3 points in Clark is ranked 14th.

And yet, the fever coach Stephanie White is not worried.

“I know that does not mean that I do not worry about the Caitlin shot, but I am not worried about the Caitlin shot,” said White after Friday’s victory. “She recalls an injury, she plays heavy and difficult minutes. Each defensive assignment, each defensive scout, she is the top of the screening report. Her quality of fire that she obtains has not been great.

Clark, of course, missed three weeks earlier in the season with a quadruple left strain and recently missed two weeks with a left groin strain. Friday’s match with the dream was only his second match of this last issue, and it is clear that she does not yet have her usual brilliance. In a zoom out, Clark has not played more than five consecutive games this season, which was difficult for him to find a pace.

The worst 3 -point shooting games from Clark this season

Since her days in Iowa, Clark has earned her life on difficult levels because of the way she is defended. These looks become exponentially more difficult when it is forced to the touch for weeks both and operates less than 100% when they return.

Take a look at his first blow against the dream. This is a 28 -foot traction with Rhyne Howard just on her back and Brionnna Jones arguing. Clark is able to make this shot, but everything is a bit for her right now.

Here it is in the third trimester that comes out of a screen and leading to its right. The two defenders stay with her and she tries a glass runner on Brittney Griner. When Clark is composed, it flows from the glass. Instead, it limits the edge.

“We are so used to seeing her made difficult shots and being able to do so while she recovers an injury will be difficult,” said White. “This is part of the reason why we want to try to make your life easier and get an easier appearance. But it will continue to be difficult because each defensive game plan should not allow them.”

The fever tried to move Clark du Ballon at times this season to create opportunities for capture and shots, but they were rare. Often, such a strategy simply allows opponents to be even more physical with Clark than usual. Against the dream, Clark took on her to create better shots.

At the end of the third quarter, Clark muscled his way in painting, took a bump from Maya Caldwell and finished for one and one. It was in particular his first trip to the Launarae line since June 22 – a section which included 73 minutes of playing action.

At the start of the fourth, Clark adopted the same approach. After using an Aliyah Boston screen in Midcourt, Clark put Jordin Canada on his hip and intimidated his way on the track for another and one.

“So that she stays patient, I thought she had done a very good job to attack the rim, not only to settle for hard -length riders,” said White. “She always does a very good job to find her teammates and then we just have to help navigate her own frustration because she is perfectionist like most elite players. She must be able to give herself in these moments, but each plan she shoots resembles me.”

The fever has three other games before the stars break. The filming of Clark at 3 points will be a main objective of these competitions, and for a good reason. It must be better behind the bow.

It will also be interesting, however, to see how much Clark is able to enter the paint to create higher percentage looks and access the free throw line. His way back to be a sniper can start by finding his pace closer to the basket.