In her debut season, Caitlin Clark completely captured the attention of the WNBA. The 22-year-old’s incredible statistics of 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, a league-best 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 3.1 threes per game helped the Indiana Fever to their first postseason trip in almost a decade.
Although there’s no doubting that there are benefits to playing with the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, the reality is that there are also drawbacks. Just ask Eric Wheeler, the star of Fever. The former All-Star revealed some shocking information regarding her numbers while playing with Clark last season on Wednesday.
“This is my LIFE’s LOWEST stat line! Not my life’s work.1.8 APG, 0.9 TO, and 3.6 PPGand it wasn’t because I don’t deserve it! May the travels continue “On X, Wheeler wrote. Wheeler did not appear to be whining in this instance. She did, after all, make the point that her statistical decrease was unrelated to her talent level.
Ultimately, Caitlin Clark is the focal point of the Fever’s offensive scheme, which depletes the production of her teammates. Not to add that Indiana’s roster includes players like Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, to mention a few. They also require a sufficient amount of time spent on the ball.
Guard Caitlin Clark (age 22) of the Indiana Fever, forward Katie Lou Samuelson (age 33), and guard Erica Wheeler (age 17) The image is courtesy of David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports. The supporters responded to Wheeler’s statement with briskness. The veteran received notes of gratitude and encouragement from Indiana fans, who emphasized how important Wheeler is to the club. “However, you may have had the biggest influence the team has ever had. Your role does not define who you are or what you are capable of.
You demonstrated this season that it’s what the team needs from you in order to win,” one comment said. “Hey, we know why it went down. Nahhhhh. given up for the benefit of others. Another said, “With Caitlin off the ball, next year should be up.” A fan made the observation, “Stats and numbers don’t always tell the whole story EW,” “You have my undying respect.
Your value and heart are not shown by those figures! For as long as they are alive, your teammates will remember what you meant to them this season. “Keep your head held high!” exclaimed one of the supporters. “Being a leader is crucial. And it’s easier to do that successfully if you maintain the proper mindset despite your team’s decline in overall performance,” one response said.
“You brought home 20 Ws as much as anyone else did, we all know the irreplaceable role you played this year,” added another. It is important to note that Wheeler’s two-year contract with the Fever expired at the end of the 2024 season, making her an unrestricted free agent at this time. A far cry from her 2024 production rate, the 5-foot-7 guard was selected an All-Star in 2019 after averaging 10.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals.
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