Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark brings the ball upcourt because the WNBA basketball workforce practices in Indianapolis, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photograph/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the highest decide of the WNBA Draft after a record-shattering faculty profession, mentioned she was happy Sunday after her first WNBA coaching camp follow session.
“It was first day,” Clark mentioned on Sunday. “It was laborious. However that’s what you count on from these practices. Simply enjoyable to get on the market with all the ladies.”
The 22-year-old American phenomenon, who set a US faculty scoring report for males or girls, is a 3-point sharpshooter who obtained world acclaim as she led the College of Iowa into the previous two US faculty finals, the Hawkeyes falling in need of the crown every time.
READ: Caitlin Clark taken No. 1 in WNBA draft by Indiana Fever
Clark, taken first within the WNBA Draft on April 15, mentioned in the course of the season she was leaving for the WNBA ranks and her devoted fan base is predicted to spice up rankings and attendance for the US girls’s league when the 2024 season begins subsequent month.
“It’s a brand new chapter and that’s what I used to be prepared for,” Clark mentioned. “I obtained a number of exercises below my belt (earlier than Sunday). That undoubtedly helps so I’m not coming into coaching camp utterly blind.”
The Fever haven’t reached the WNBA playoffs since 2016, haven’t gained a playoff collection or had a successful season since 2015 and gained their solely championship in 2012.
“Our purpose is the playoffs,” Fever coach Christie Sides mentioned.
Clark says she is worked up for the stress of the WNBA, which begins with a pre-season contest Friday at Dallas.
“It’s undoubtedly totally different however that’s what you count on whenever you begin a brand new chapter of your life,” Clark mentioned.
READ: Caitlin Clark makes shock look on ‘Saturday Evening Stay’
“This teaching workers is totally ready. They’ve been watching me for fairly a while and the stuff they’ve deliberate and the actions we’re going to run are going to be actually good for myself, actually good for this group normally. Lots of screening motion.
“It’s quick, a quick shot clock, however it suits my recreation nicely.”
Getting again on courtroom for the two-hour workforce exercise session enabled Clark to put aside a whirlwind previous few weeks as her reputation exploded throughout a university post-season run final month.
“I feel that’s what I used to be most excited for –- get all that different stuff out of the way in which,” Clark mentioned. “There actually hasn’t been a down interval for me to catch my breath.
“I really feel like I’m in actually good basketball form. There’s no getting again in form for myself. I’ve been taking part in basketball. There has not likely been an off interval. For me, I really feel like that’s a very good factor. You simply maintain the momentum rolling and maintain being myself and continue learning.”
