Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark recently opened up about a tense moment during practice involving her teammates. In an upcoming episode of David Letterman’s Netflix show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, Clark spoke in front of the Ball State University basketball team in Muncie, Indiana, and reflected on an emotional learning moment early in her WNBA career.
Caitlin Clark admitted she was underperforming during a live scrimmage at practice and grew frustrated. She was eventually subbed out by the coaching staff, which led her to walk out of the gym.
“I was playing really bad that day,” she said. “I got so frustrated after I got subbed out. It had nothing to do with anybody else. I just walked out of the gym.”
Later, while watching film with a coach, she realized how her actions could be viewed as selfish. Still, she explained her reasoning came from a place of wanting to protect team chemistry.
“They were mad at me,” she said, referring to her teammates. “And I was like, ‘No, you should be happy with me.’ I didn’t want to have a bad reaction and take it out on my teammates or be negative. I needed space.”
As Caitlin Clark heads into her second season with the Fever, maintaining strong relationships with her teammates is a top priority. After showing flashes of brilliance in her rookie year, her leadership and self-awareness will be key as the team builds on its momentum.
Caitlin Clark on the Rise of Women’s Sports
In a separate interview alongside Fever teammates Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and Kelsey Mitchell on March 1, Clark spoke about the explosive growth of women’s sports, especially women’s basketball.
“You’re seeing women’s sports grow at an exponential rate,” she said. “Whether it’s people buying tickets or watching on TV, the momentum is incredible.”
Clark’s influence, both on and off the court, has played a significant role in this growth. Along with fellow rookie Angel Reese, she helped push WNBA viewership to new heights—surpassing 54 million unique viewers across TV and streaming platforms.
The 2024 WNBA season also marked a major milestone as the most-watched in 24 years, with total attendance reaching over 2.35 million—a 48% increase from 2023.
Clark’s emergence is not just reshaping the game—it’s transforming the future of women’s sports where one could see it as a way towards equality in the industry dominated by men.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
