Caitlin Clark has become the face of the WNBA, and her third season has done little to change that. The Indiana Fever guard remains one of the league’s most watched players while continuing to produce at an elite level.
But being the league’s biggest star has also meant that Clark rarely gets to simply have a quiet night.
Heavy scrutiny has become Clark’s reality since her college days, when she became one of the most recognizable athletes in the sport. It is a trend her teammate Kelsey Mitchell has watched from close range as their relationship has grown in Indiana.
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Mitchell, who has shared the backcourt with former Iowa guard for the past three seasons, recently opened up about the scrutiny Clark receives and how it has shaped the way she approaches her as both a teammate and a person.
“I think the one thing about CC and her career is that people have already been judging her, and she’s just really getting started. So, my job is to not be that (judgmental) person. …” Mitchell said, via James Boyd of The Athletic.
Clark arrived in the WNBA after becoming one of the most hyped athletes in college basketball, and that attention followed her into the professional game. She has since matched those expectations, becoming a three-time All-Star and one of the league’s best playmakers.
Mitchell has been right there with her. The Fever guards rank second and third in scoring this season, with Mitchell averaging 24.3 points per game and Clark at 21.7. Clark also leads the league in assists (8.2), while Mitchell ranks fourth in 3-point shooting at 44.5%.
The duo has become one of the defining features of Indiana’s season, with both stars also emerging as favorites to win the MVP award this year. Clark and Mitchell are expected to be back in action Friday when the Fever host Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.
