Why Caitlin Clark's roller-coaster first week is actually a boost for the WNBA as league rises in popularity

While Clark has struggled to shoot efficiently thus far, she's producing historic offensive numbers from a volume perspective

By Xavier Handy-Hamilton May 20, 2024 at 11:23 am ET• 3 min read

After making history at the college ranks, a lot of hoops fans thought Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, would continue to steamroll defenders at the pro level.

Not quite. 

Just under a week ago, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer began her rookie campaign on an unfortunate side of the record books, committing 10 turnovers against the Connecticut Sun, the most in a debut game in WNBA history.

Clark's saving grace heading into her second game was that she was able to score 20 points in her first outing. In her second game -- the front end of a back-to-back against the New York Liberty -- Clark scored a mere nine points as the Fever lost in blowout fashion. The Fever then dropped their second game to the Liberty by double digits. Clark was much better there, with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Thanks in part to the Fever's 0-3 record, new WNBA fans now realize the league is full of talented players who aren't going to escort Clark down the Yellow Brick Road of Superstardom. Instead, the rookie is going to run into several concrete walls that will remind her (and fans) that she isn't in KansasIowa anymore.