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Stephen A. Smith - English
WNBA - English
The sharp decline in performance this season for Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is largely the result of the series of injuries the star player has unfortunately endured. The contrast between 2025 and her rookie year in the WNBA is stark. Despite being a first-year player in 2024, Clark was considered a legitimate candidate for league MVP, ultimately finishing in the top five in voting for the award.
At present, she is averaging 16.5 points per game, down from last season’s 19.2. Her shooting efficiency has also taken a significant hit. After converting 41.7% of her field goals last year, her current percentage has dropped to 36.7%, with a modest 27.6% success rate from beyond the arc.
Caitlin Clark praises coach Bluder’s practice style that still shapes her pro game
Compounding the statistical decline is her extended absence from the court. This 2025 campaign has already seen Clark miss 20 games due to injury. While numbers are important, for Fever fans the true draw is seeing her on the floor every game, a constant that has been absent this year.
Clark’s struggles, according to Stephen A. Smith
Known for his candor on ESPN’s First Take, analyst Stephen A. Smith shared his perspective on Clark’s current challenges, though his latest remarks came in a different setting, as a guest on the August 8 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. Without hesitation, he described her impact on the league.
Caitlin Clark is the cash cow. She is box office. When she plays, the ratings go up, revenue goes up, interest goes up. When she doesn’t play, it plummets.” … “36% drop in ratings for All-Star Weekend for the WNBA a few weeks ago. Last year, she didn’t miss a game. This year, she missed 17 games. This is a woman that, everything she touches with women’s basketball, turns to gold… She is very good.
When asked directly if Clark was the league’s best player, Smith was blunt.
No, she’s not the best player in the league. But she’s good, she’s damn good. She was fourth in league MVP voting last year.
She had an opportunity to be that this year, but those 17 games that she’s missed, dipped in shooting percentage, three-point shooting percentage, assists, everything has gone down a little bit. Primarily due to injuries. But trust me, she is the future of the WNBA. She’s legit.
Smith has been one of Clark’s staunchest defenders, and as she battles to return to the hardwood and reclaim her peak form, he hopes she can recover soon and again showcase the elite talent she displayed from the moment she entered the league.
What’s next for the Indiana Fever
The Fever’s upcoming schedule includes three home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse: Saturday, August 9, against the Chicago Sky; Tuesday, August 12, against the Dallas Wings; and Friday, August 15, against the Washington Mystics. According to several reports, the matchup with Dallas could mark Clark’s return to action.
This news was originally published on this post .
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