Caitlin Clark—a major influence and inspiration to the WNBA—started off her season on May 17 with a win.
Clark and her team, the Indiana Fever, played the Chicago Sky for their first game of the regular season, beating them 93-58.
“I think she [Caitlin Clark] played really well not just as an individual, but she was cooperating with her team,” said Akshana Siva, 13, on the Champions team, who currently plays Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball.
Following the first game, the Fever played the Atlanta Dream twice, losing the first time 91-90, and winning the second time 81-76. The Fever also played the New York Liberty, losing 90-88. Following that, they played the Washington Mystics, losing 83-77.
Tahlia Mohr, 13, on the Champions team, feels that Clark is a very skilled player, especially in her shooting.
“I think she’s really good because she’s crazy good at threes,” she said.
A post is one of the five positions and is usually someone taller who plays closer to the basket. Aliyah Boston is a post player on the Fever, and Tahlia plays basketball and is also a post player, so Tahlia enjoys watching Aliyah Boston play.
“I think Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston are a really good duo,” Tahlia said. “Aliyah Boston is a post, and I’m a post, and I can see how to make myself better as a post.”
In 2024, Tahlia went to one of the Fever’s games against the Washington Mystics that was held in D.C.
“Everybody was super happy,” Tahlia said about the atmosphere throughout the game.
According to Britannica, in 2024, Clark was the first pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, where she won the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
“I think she is one of the best players that has ever played in the WNBA,” Akshana said. “She also flows with her teammates so well and is a team player.”
Haley Dreyer, 13, is on the Dream team. Haley plays basketball and likes Clark because she works well with the rest of her team.
“She is one of the top scorers and passers which isn’t common,” Haley explained.
The Fever played three games during the preseason and won all of them. Clark could not play during the first preseason game due to a leg injury.
Caitlin Clark played in the Fever’s second preseason game against the Brazil National Team where they beat them 108 – 44. During this game, Clark scored a three-pointer from about 36 feet away from the basket, making for a total of 16 points. Her teammates, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard, scored 17, 11 and 10 points respectively.
Ms. Breenae Nicole Polo Hackett, seventh-grade health and PE teacher, thinks that Clark has done a great deal for the WNBA.
“She’s brought a lot of positive attention to the WNBA,” Ms. Polo said. “She’s a great role model for young girls.”
Ms. Polo explained how Clark has changed the game of women’s basketball.
“Before, not many people followed women’s basketball, but there’s all kinds of young girls that look up to her and want to be the next Caitlin Clark,” she said. “Because of her, there’s a lot of positive change happening in women’s basketball.”
She also feels that Clark has made a lasting impact on basketball.
“I just think she has definitely made a mark for women’s sports,” Ms. Polo said.
Haley also thinks that Clark has impacted the WNBA.
“She has so much talent and has brought so much more awareness and popularity to the WNBA,” she said. “Caitlin Clark has influenced women’s basketball by showing that women can be just as good as players as men, or better.”
As well as others, Caitlin Clark has strongly affected Haley.
Haley said, “She has taught me that if you just work hard at your dreams, anything is possible.”
