Don’t Overreact To Caitlin Clark’s Struggles | WNBA Film Study 

First, I am a big Caitlin Clark fan. I note she often starts in a corner of the arc instead of getting more involved in the middle including the paint. I feel she is afraid of contact in the paint which explains why she very rarely drives for floaters or layups. She also does not shoot to the right and I do not see fall-away shots. In other words, she is far too predictable in seeking 3 point shots and is pressing. She will not be good on the pro level until she becomes more versatile and can handle the physicality. She needs to vary her game, be unpredictable and fearless.

You’re proven Tuarasi’s point. CC won’t be no different. She not the world beater the media tried to push.

Caitlin Clark is struggling because her flaws are being amplified and the competition is better in the W. Either Caitlin will have to improve her game if she wants to be a ball-dominant PG or the Fever will need to build a team around her that fits and hides her flaws. Decisions...decisions.

Let's not forget she went first in the draft for a reason. The team she is on is not that good. I think part of it is coaching. They need a coach like Becky Hammond. Someone who inspires greatness from players. A coach who will put people in a position to be successful. A coach who's playing chess, not checkers on offensive and defensive.

quit expecting a shitty team, with very average players overall, to win against pretty much the best the league has to offer just because they got the # one college draft pick.

She is being sabotaged by her own coach and teammates: no passes in transition, not setting up slip screens, Wheeler icing her, being put out at the 2 instead of the 1. Fire Christie Sides and bench Wheeler.

She is not struggling she is a rookie and the only one struggling with this is the media that cannot deal with it. Leave her alone and let her grow

Her own coach said she is "hangingout and dancing" on the court.😂😂😂 Coach said that on her press conference.

She's goin up against bigger, stronger, faster defenders who are motivated to deny her space to get her shot off without being contested.

You know, I noticed you said CC is playing PG. But most times it seems she's playing as a 2, and then occasionally steps into that PG role for a few minutes here and there. I'm pretty sure Wheeler is occupying the PG slot for the most part. There seems to be some confusion. Is CC playing SG or PG for Indiana?

Really enjoyed the analysis with actual footage. Keep us posted with your thoughts! :)

She isn’t in Iowa anymore, had the green light to shoot anytime from anywhere on the court and rarely played defense to rest her for offense. Now she has to play defense against other top college players, she can’t take most of them off the dribble, she needs screens to get open and will likely be too tired to play offense if she is made to participate on the defensive end, so her shots aren’t falling because of being physically tired.

CC has things she has to work out for sure. But man, I thought AB was gonna come out looking a whole lot better this year. I get we want our girls to stay in the states and not have to play overseas, but that's such good reps the vets have that the more recent draftees haven't done. I was SHOOK when zia cooke said she wasn't going overseas cause I felt like she needed it. I wasnt so concerned for AB because of how she looked but man.. basically 8 months with no real game reps is looking like it took its toll on her.

So basically when she start playing subpar teams she should start looking better.

What do you make of having CC as the 2 and Wheeler's play?

the wnba having CC play against the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the league is insane.The NFL didn't schedule Caleb Williams team Chicago Bears play against the 49ers and the Bills.Their 1st game is against the Raiders.Wnba get a clue!

great vid as always! appreciate the examples and breakdown.

She is in the pro game and it going to take time for her to get use to the WNBA game. The more CC plays the more she is going to get better and work harder at her game to be successful in the league ; this woman just started 2 games and people are going all crazy , give the women time to develop her game in the pros.

Love love love this analysis. Curious what your take on the coaching drama is.

Great comparison showing how some other greats struggled at first

She's one of 4 rookies in history to have over 60 pts. and 20 assists in their first four games and she's "struggling." LOL! She's played like 3 weeks with her teammates against two of the best, seasoned teams in the league! By mid season, the Fever is going to be winning most of their games, mark my words.

I guess she was making those tight passes now because she was used to her college teammates getting them. She still have to acclimate that those guarding her now are faster to react and is able to deflect her passes causing turnovers. her teammates also weren't familiar with her so they weren't expecting the ball and also causes turnovers. Though it was actually the receiver's fault because they should have eyes alwys on the ball but I think this will sort out when they get familiar with each other. They also need defensive and offensive plays. The coach is insisting on her style that made her a losing coach, she gets a college unicorn and she is determined to whip her to her style...which keep her losing still. She should let Clark do what made her great and reinforce that with suitable plays and strategies - she can't do worse.

Your not calling a spade a spade for that I can’t subscribe but well put together video tho bro

She is a point guard she runs the offense. She was number 1 in ollege in assists

She has to be point, or at least have the ball in her hands once it crosses centerline..also, those baby passes and loop on the paint will not be as easily made against these defenses, gotta work on those..not to mention receivers has to have great hands to catch those, and her teammates doesn't seem to have those either, and to at least finish if caught, not just throw it up there for no reason at all//

no its because every game i watched since preseason they hounded her from the start and during post game the coach says this everytime that the team needs to catch up with CC . when you are a roookie you will be all over the place . Give CC time to develop into a professional transitioning from College to the Pro's is different Pros you go hard and and fast they have a day to relax and to practice and go over film the team needs time to gel .

Great stuff! Thx

It's her first few games. She has has range. So sooner or later she will get it going. It's a big step from college to the WNBA. The system is different and she will need to get used to it.

Hunter I really Appreciated this Video and your Key Commentary 👍 You made some very good realistic points here. Well done. Just adding a few things here, First, Im a Hawkeye, Im not claiming to be any kind of expert, but here at my house Weve all seen every single game Caitlin has played, including High school, and wev’e Never seen her like she has been the last couple weeks, and Yeah, people will say; Welcome to The ‘W’ its a big adjust, thats True. But I mean her Spirit, We notice it in her eyes, and in her voice. And she gets alot of Hate-mail daily, thats Just Wrong. Also Every single game thus far including pre-season, Caitlin has been doubled and Tripled up by Teams, and I have honestly Not seen that Intense amount of Pressure on Any Players Of The other WNBA Teams watching those other WNBA games. In Fact, I dont recall Any Athlete Debuts in any Sport, like this is with Caitlin in The WNBA , Not MJ, LeBron, Mahomes, Tom Brady, Venus Williams, Ohtani, etc etc, on and on , its just crazy The Opponents Intense Targeting on Caitlin. And Its Obvious alot is begining to take its toll on her, The Critiscisms, Stacked up Pressure of Opponents in games, Blame, Hatred, Fans Expectations, Coach Sides and also The Fever Players Not Adequately opening up and Freeing Up any Spaces for Caitlin. Also The Team Strategy has Not been Good whatsoever on setting up Any good screens. I Really like what you added about Caitlin Needing to work on the stepback to The Right side, not just her typical left shot. I can honestly Tell you that Caitlin is Good with the right side shot, Not as good as her left, but She did Consistently shoot right side shots in College including too many Buzzer beaters from the right side to count. But why She’s Not also taking those Right Side Shots is beyond me. I would really like to see The Fever Defense Stepped up, my gosh it doesnt seem to me that there is much Fever Defense whatsoever. And There seems to be an Abscence of Good Transitional Opportunities that just isnt there. You mentioned Kelsey Mitchell’s struggles, lack of performence, lack of Defense, I agree, and with No disrespect to Kelsey I would just Personally like to See Celeste Taylor replace Kelsey and Celeste be given an Ample Opportunity to step in for a few games with solid time to mix it up and see what Celeste can do. What is your Opinion Hunter on Celeste Taylor replacing Kelsey for a few Games? Thanks for allowing me to share a few thoughts here.

CC is not playing the point, at least not against NY. E the ball hog W was. Very good breakdown here vs CT. JP

New to the fever, but how much help is cc and ab getting from teammates. 13 wins last year,, and honestly it would take a miracle coach to mesh two rookies with a team that just does not have a lot of veteran talent. Wnba has a lot of great star players and role players, fever will need to identify who they are, assess needs/gaps and fill by recruiting and pick up players in free agency. They are a ways off, cc and ab need a lot more help to realize potential in the wnba.

Indiana struggles goes around Boston and cc their chemistry needs to pick up in order for a player like Kelsey to become even more elite

Remember she can play in the NBA or the Big 3 so I think the women she is playing against is not on her level

I've hated the takes I've heard from some fans of her I work with that she is already a bust and is playing terribly, she is a rookie! And also don't forget Indiana had the number one pick for a reason, they aren't exactly a loaded team. Add on top of that she went from a full college season all the way to the national title game to the pros with just a few weeks break in between and the massive media coverage and the motivation her opponents likely have to put all their focus on stopping her, and I don't get why people just guessed she would be having 40 point triple doubles from her first game on.

Thank you for yet more excellent analysis. You are a technician.

U utubers Have it all broken down. No excuses please. Historically bad u said about Caitlin. I love your comments. Keep it up.

Omg so the defense will let up no it want

Caitlin Clark is averaging 8.2 potential assist per game. Not bad .

There's a reason The Fever got 1st pick two years in a row. They suck. Sides is not the greatest coach in the world, but it's only her second year. Give the team some more games b4 you start firing coaches and trading players. CC has only had two weeks practice with this team coming off the NCAA tournament. Give them 10 games to settle in a little. Then see how it's going. The first 6 or so games are tough ones. These are some of the best teams in the league. (Yeah I never thought I'd hear myself use that sentence). But, hey don't freak out and give up yet. THE CAITLIN CLARK will be round soon!

Dropping 40 points in a couple weeks??? Literally NO ONE is doing that and she’s already frustrated. Until she gets stronger, she’s going to struggle. I foresee a long, humbling rookie season.

People need to remember that Caitlin just finished a very long 39 game season at Iowa. She probably averaged 35 minutes per game. Her last college game was April 7th. The WNBA draft was April 15th. She and the other rookies have only had maybe 3 weeks of practicing with their new team. Caitlin has had basically zero rest and a real off season.

She needs to play the one only and the team needs to shoot more threes and NOT long 2s, which suggests Sides doesn't know what she's doing and has no connection with the players. Bench Boston and Wheeler. They are way under performing.

The team sucks out of shape da

Poo tactics can destroy a young talent. I think the coaching team get to look it. For instance, it does not make sense to tell Lion Messi to play a defensive role in Inter Miami

Clark shoots with the ball to the left of her head. That's why she favors the step back to the left. The momentum going to the left makes shooting from the left more fluid. I shoot with the ball to the right of my head and it's very difficult for me to shoot while stepping to the left. It doesn't feel right at all. Do some shots, her way and my way, and do it both going to the right and left. You'll feel the difference.

Great video. Please make more WNBA rookie film studies.

Spot on

"The 2023 WNBA season was dedicated to women’s health advocacy, with a focus on Black, Brown and LGBTQ+ communities." The WNBA has a mission that has nothing to do with Basketball.

ITS ONLY 2 GAMES. WOW. RELAX PEOPLE. DAMN

Caitlin unfortunately is experiencing the same treatment African Americans endured as their introduction into the professional Sporting Leagues in America. De Shoe is now on de UDDER Foot. Karma is now being served. There was a Zero of a National outcry of unfairness then. 👀😳

Tremendous overall take. JP

There are only 12 wnba teams and Sides is the best coach the Fever could find? Seriously????

Caitlin is struggling because she has no teammates that are actually trying to help her at all.

She is the new Tebow. Nothing she does wrong will be addressed and may push her out of the league. They wanted that "all american" small towner who can represent the league. The problem is that she had flaws in college, and they ignored them. She was shooting a lot, caused turnovers, and was weak on defensethen.

hardly anybody in the W soots a good fg%. even in that blowout win only Stewie shot over 33% from the field (players who took 1-2 shots obviously not eligible).

If I were the owner intervention would be required. I would sit the players disrespecting the team in teamwork and fire the coach trying to;g to change what worked for Caitlin for for years at Iowa. The coach is dead wrong. Two games and coach changes Clark’s entire play and says nothing about the freeze out.

The problem is, nobody else was referred to as the goat before having played a single pro game. That is what I believe is rubbing a lot of people including me the wrong way.

Clark's game is off; her coach and other players are trying to protect her by easing her in. Why is she missing shots? She is exhausted. Remember she was out-of-gas in Q1 of the first pre-season game. Her engagements have been extensive for weeks, up all night after Draft Day, being "On" all the time promoting the WNBA, $$$ decisions, moving to Indy, picking out shoes besides Nike. She needs R&R, a nap during half-time, to skip a couple practices, and to start complaining to the refs to release it all.

SMH I wonder who worst Caitlin Clack or LBJ fans. I hear the excuses already. CC is a liability on defense she goes under on pretty much every screen instead of trying to fight through it. CC best shot is going left especially off a screen. Going right its a drive or a pass. The W is different stronger fast taller more athletic players. She has to get stronger especially when guard by an elite defender. Prime example look at the NCAA title game Raven made it very difficult for her and she was a freshman. CC is a volume shooter has always been one. I dont believe she going get those same shots in the W. CC has a high IQ it's just she has to continue to add to her game. Learn how to shoot going right - play better defense - work on your handle - hit the weight room - work on your mid range. She gonna have a game or 2 or 3 where she catches fire and then the whole word will be happy. But until then she has every eye on her because the media told the world she's the best player in the W or will be in a few years.

I totally get where your coming from when it comes to rookies starting out ruff and figuring it out but i will say there's never been a a WNBA prospect with the hype that Caitlin has had.... The way people were talking about her was that she was going to be transcendent right off the bat. So i do agree to give her time but the wnba really does need her to be a goat level rookie this year because if she doesn't the nba is gonna lose a sh#t tone of viewership.💯

CC struggles are based off the hype ESPN has given her she's playing against the best of the best females no matter where they came from plus these ladies are hungry so this is nothing short of a humbling experience but she'll be fine once the rookie phase goes away.. wemby went thru the same thing so 🤷

Caitlin's teammates look very slow and winded compared to the other teams so far. You can see that in the rebounding more than anything else. I watched clips of Boston from last year compared to games from this year. She is NOT the same player as last year. She cannot muscle Jonquel Jones like she did in her rookie year. She is A LOT slower and weaker, from what I see.

ok analysis!🔥🔥

My starting players are Clark Berger Smith Fagbenie Mitchell and

Who's overreacting and who even knew the season started?

Actually you completely missed the boat on this one. Instead of showing what Caitlin is doing wrong you should have shown what her teammates is doing wrong. I know now why she is on this team. They are the worse team in the league. Not only are they a bad team they are out of shape but it seems they are icing CC out. They are not trying to catch the ball. They are not running the court. AB is jogging. AB is not setting picks. AB cannot hit her spots and she seems confused where she is suppose to be. The one person that I think can and willing to help CC is Celeste Taylor. Unfortunately she has played zero minutes. CC is not going to get much better on this team until her teammates play for her. The best thing that can happen is trying to trade some of the players. And cut some of the players. This time next year she needs 8 new players. AB can be one that is traded. She has value. AB is lazy, slow and glued to the floor. She has no idea where she is suppose to be on the floor.

No. All yall wrong. CC just scored 30, balled out and the sorry ass team and coach gets a pass and they lose.

One game in and everybody has an opinion. Stay tuned. She will adjust.

STAY TUNED PEOPLE, MORE CC EXCUSES TO COME. I LOVE THE USA 🇺🇸 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 0-5 NOT GOOD

The coach is the problem cannot see who will play better among her players. I think Clark will play better with Smith, Katie, Lexi, Wallies, Berger. They are fast and can shoot, Boston moves slow.

So when alya Boston and Kelsey Mitchell played better no one said a damn thing about it

Only time will tell so why not enjoy

Peyton Manning had 28 picks as a rookie. Both LeBron and Kobe appeared to be busts as rookies and the rest is history

Don't give us that bs about transition from college to pros. Her team is sabotaging her...period!!!!

Fever, have two players shadow Clark to hold off the defence. Put the other two at the hoop for offensive rebounds and layups.

Where were these Stats when Caitlin Clark was Drafted? She was Suppose to walk in and start Dominating. She was in a league of her own. Now, she's being compared to the some of the great wnba players. Hypocrite!!!

The Black American Hero Professional Athletes of decades gone by suffered and endured the same Physical and Verbal Abuse and sometimes far worse. especially from their own teammates,opponents, League officials, referees, judges as well as Fans from their Home and Opposing Audiences. These Same Athletes were not allowed to share the same locker rooms, Hotels, Restaurants and transportation afforded to other players. Why is Caitlin so special and Undeserving of the same treatment by the Christian People of the so called Land of the Free? Oh de Irony! 👀😳

Need to run plays for her

Geeze! Give her a chance to transition to a higher level of basketball. She is talented, and needs to find her niche. Give her time to get used to a higher caliber of players, she's not on a college level anymore!

The press has set this girl up for failure. Let her play stop acting like shes a goat and shes not. These girls been playing for years and they pros.

Because SHE IS NOT AS GOOD AS PEOPLE THINK!!!

She doing just fine she needs to work on her floater, her step back is just fine her out side step to left , no one has stopped it yet .she doingl just fine .

She’s not struggling with her own talent….she just has no support whatsoever from her teammates. I guess they are willing to sacrifice the fans and the jets out of petty jealousy. No guarding, no screens, no completed assists, no giving her the ball. It looks deliberate. Absolutely. They couldn’t possibly be that bad. I say put them all on notice to play or be cut. Bottom line. They don’t make that much….pay them out of their contracts and get players from other teams or overseas. All that support from Erica is so fake. She’s actually the worst. She hogs the ball and does NOTHING with it. NOTHING. Poor Caitlin is being murdered figuratively in plain sight.👎

Remember one thing, you never called those players your trying to compare her to the greatest female basketball player ever. Clearly she is not!

I really appreciate this deep analysis devoid of the drama within other videos. You fairly pointed out her weaknesses, but also her team’s weaknesses. You fairly pointed out that she has one of the hardest positions to adjust to as a rookie. What I would add: poor coaching both from herself and her coach, assuming she listens to her coach. She is 10th in the league in FT% but 16th in FTA, 4th in 3PA, 8th in 3PM, and 32nd in 3p%. These stats without me having watched a game suggest she came in with either hubris or a lack of respect for the WNBA talent. Perhaps she is forcing some of her offensive decisions selfishly. Perhaps she’s feeling the pressure to live up to the biggest hype since LeBron, and the pressure to prove haters wrong. However, if winning is her priority, She should be trying to get to the line more and not jack up so many 3s, but hell, the long ball puts butts in seats 🤷🏾‍♂️. Your point about working on shooting better while moving right is spot on. That’s the scouting report that The Gamecocks used to limit her, and I’m sure every WNBA team has it too. Also to your point, The person who really needs to step up is Boston. She is too slow of foot. As much tension as there seems to be between Clark and Reese, I would love if Reese and Clark where teammates.

40 yeah right

her team stinks, her head coach is terrible.

Jealous Coach

You left out coaching... or the lack thereof.

Suns 13 uncalled fouls on CC. Fever vs Liberty missed 13 shots at the rim & froze Clark out of 16 plays. The team never runs transition to the passing lanes and has no perimeter passing game to open up the floor. No pick-and-roll schemes, no movement to the ball for open looks when Clark is doubled.

Make the playoffs 🤣Put the pipe down

Also, she’s being mugged once over the mid court line.

When you are playing w a bunch of lazies in your team it's going to be hard to win. To her teamates its like what will I wear for the next media shoot. To CC HER MIND IS SET ON WINNING!!!

She’s out of the playoffs tho

Okay 👌🏼👍🏼😊we cool 😎 🆒

She's just not as good as a GOAT is supposed to be. Get over it already. She has great range! Great passing! Zero defence. She cannot put an average team on her shoulders and win. Give your attention to the better players in league. They have earned it!

Her teammates are all greedy and not playing around CC. The coach must go!

Caitlin is strapped to the worst team in the league. Also her coach is inadequate to the challenge of this team.

Her teammates are against her.

You all were the ones that hyped her up. First draft pick. The face of the WNBA. The next Steph Curry? There's no crying in basketball. Play professional basketball and be quiet.