JUST IN: Caitlin Clark drops a shocking statement
**PHOENIX** – As soon as Indiana Fever rookie star Caitlin Clark entered the press conference room following the WNBA All-Star Game, she immediately declared, “I’m on vacation!”
Her statement brought laughter from the media, but she kept her Olympic break plans a secret. Clark’s arrival in the WNBA coincides with a period of unprecedented growth and attention, a surge partly attributed to her phenomenal college career.
When asked about the WNBA’s increasing popularity and her role in it, Clark acknowledged that this recognition is something the league’s veteran players have long deserved.
“It’s incredibly special and significant for the players who have been in this league for a long time to experience these moments and opportunities because they deserve it. It’s been a long time coming, but honestly, I feel like we’re just scratching the surface,” Clark said. “The new media rights deal will help. It’s a gradual process, but it’s only going to improve year by year, giving more people the chance to see how great women’s basketball is at the professional level.
“I’m very thankful and grateful, and if I can help in any way, that’s all I aim to do—just continue to attract more support for this game.”
The WNBA is set to expand within the next two seasons, with the Golden State Valkyries starting in 2025 and a yet-to-be-named Toronto franchise in 2026. These new teams will provide more roster spots, offering more players opportunities and helping grow the game in new markets.
“That’s only going to help the league grow. It’ll attract more viewers and introduce us to new markets,” Clark said. “Everyone knows how talented college players are. We want to continue bringing those players into this league because they have many fans at the college level, and we want to bring those fans here.”
Caitlin Clark continues her Rookie of the Year campaign
When the WNBA season resumes in mid-August after the Olympics, Caitlin Clark will rejoin the Indiana Fever and continue her pursuit of Rookie of the Year honors. Currently, she’s in a close race with Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky. The two were teammates at the All-Star Game, even connecting on a play to the delight of fans.
Clark didn’t score much during the All-Star Game, finishing with just four points on 2-of-9 shooting and 0-of-7 from beyond the arc. However, she contributed significantly by dishing out ten assists, providing a huge boost for Team WNBA as the starting point guard.
Clark has played in all 26 games for the Fever, averaging a little over 35 minutes per game. She’s posting averages of 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, with shooting splits of 40.5 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from three-point range, and 89.1 percent from the free-throw line.
By earning the starting point guard spot for Team WNBA at the 2024 All-Star Game, Clark, along with Fever teammate Aliyah Boston in 2023, became the first rookies to start a WNBA All-Star game since Schoni Schimmel did so in 2013.