Clark is learning how to handle the contact

Caitlin Clark gets new and unusual advice on dealing with WNBA physicality

It seems that everyone has advice for Caitlin Clark these days. The Indiana Fever‘s rookie guard has not found it easy to adjust to the WNBA after breaking college scoring records at Iowa, but she is getting better and better with each passing game — and the league’s future is coming into clearer focus as a result.

Clark has arguably struggled the most with the WNBA’s physicality, amid controversies with players like Chennedy Carter and Angel Reese. Opponents have rejected the notion that they are targeting Clark out of jealousy — rather, they are aware that she is a 22-year-old rookie whose game is predicated on scoring and playmaking rather than brute strength. Even still, a surprising personality has chimed in with a suggestion for Clark on battling back against the contact.

 

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Parker Johnson

David Wells’ “tough” advice to Clark

David Wells, a former left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees, has told Fox News of his belief that the rest of the WNBA is “jealous” of Clark and wants to make her time on the court as miserable as possible. To that end, Wells — who never played basketball — has instructed Clark to “get thick skin and push back.”

“She’s taking the high road, killing them with kindness. And that to me, you see when people do that, it really p***** the other person off because they want a reaction out of them,” Wells said.

 

Wells, a former World Series champion with the Yankees, thinks that Clark will eventually take drastic action if the flagrant fouls continue.

“It’s going to happen eventually; someone’s going to cheap-shot her, and she’s going to turn around and deck them,” he predicted.

Clark has always played with her heart on her sleeve and is unafraid to mouth off at referees or opposing players. But fans and analysts have lauded her knack for “taking the high road” and her maturity amidst the hard contact. That maturity has seen Clark improve her scoring efficiency and develop chemsitry with star center Aliyah Boston in Indiana — both of which were on display during the Fever‘s 88-81 home win over the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.