Sunday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky seemed to be setting up for a potential game-winning opportunity for Caitlin Clark. The No. 1 pick wasn’t involved in the offense late, though, much to the surprise of everyone, including her head coach in Christie Sides.
Sides spoke about the Fever’s final possessions following the 88-87 loss to the Sky. With Clark deciding to pass off the ball to Kristy Wallace in the last seconds, Sides said that she doesn’t want her to not look for her chances to score considering how great she is on that end of the floor for them.
“I never want her to not be aggressive and take shots,” said Sides.
“When she went out in transition after that missed free throw? I thought she was gonna take it to the rim or pull up right there,” Sides recalled. “That would’ve been a great shot for her, for our team.”
To be fair, Clark is as unselfish with her passing as she is proficient with her scoring. She did post a new season-best for her rookie run with 13 assists in the one-point loss. That has her averaging 6.6 per game on the season, which is top-five in the entire WNBA.
Clark explained as much herself in her own postgame press conference.
“I’m sure there was an opportunity or two for me to probably attempt another shot there at the end but I trust my teammates,” Clark explained. “I’m gonna give them the ball every time.”
Still, at 16.3 ppg. as the Fever’s leading scorer and franchise player, Clark going for her own shot is their best offense. That’s even more troublesome when you realize that she didn’t take one in the final 2:18 of this close game.
However, Sides clearly didn’t put it on Clark. She actually, more than anything, made it a team issue considering a 15-point lead toward the end of the third became a Sky victory in the closing seconds.
“But, I mean, you know, we were up 15 at the end of the third quarter. We’ve got to do a better job of being able to finish out games. Have a little bit more discipline in the fourth quarter,” said Sides.
“Like I said, give Chicago credit,” Sides said.
The Fever just weren’t able to close this one out whether or not there was enough involvement from Clark. That makes it just another learning opportunity for them and their star before their next game at Seattle on Thursday.
The post Christie Sides on Caitlin Clark passing up potential game-winning shot vs. Chicago Sky: ‘I thought she was gonna take it to the rim or pull up’ appeared first on On3.