Caitlin Clark is leaning on an unlikely source of encouragement during her shooting slump – none other than NBA sharpshooter Steph Curry.
The Indiana Fever star, once hailed as the future face of the WNBA, has found herself in a rut this season. After a record-breaking rookie campaign where she took home Rookie of the Year honors and cracked the top five in MVP voting, Clark is now facing the harsh reality of a sophomore slump.
Plagued by injuries and inconsistency, the 23-year-old guard has appeared in only 11 of the Fever’s first 21 games and has struggled to find her rhythm on the court.
Curry has also had bad times
Over her last five appearances, Clark’s scoring has dipped to an average of just 11.6 points per game, including a brutal 4-for-35 stretch from three-point range. Yet, the former No. 1 pick is refusing to panic.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Wings, Clark revealed that her shooting coach recently shared a stat line from Steph Curry as a reminder that even the greatest shooters go cold. “He was like, ‘Steph is 27 for his last 70.’ Even the best in the world go through it,” she said. “That’s where you can find your confidence.”
Clark added that her mechanics feel fine and that the slump is more mental than technical. “I’m getting good shots. That’s why it’s frustrating – those are the shots I make,” she said. “I know how hard I’ve worked. This isn’t something that’s going to last.”
Clark’s slump continues despite her optimism
Despite her positivity, Clark’s latest performance against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings didn’t offer much relief. She finished with 14 points, three rebounds, and 13 assists, going 4-of-12 from the field and just 2-of-7 from deep – extending her rough shooting stretch.
Still, she remains defiant. “I’m never going to stop shooting,” Clark insisted. “Until I break out of it, I’m just going to keep launching.”
With critics circling and rookies like Bueckers shining in the spotlight, Clark is under pressure to rediscover the magic that made her a household name. Whether her shots start falling soon or not, one thing is clear: Caitlin Clark isn’t backing down from the fight.
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