Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides faced backlash from WNBA fans after suggesting that rookie star Caitlin Clark needs to take more shots. Sides made these comments following a disappointing 89-77 loss to the Seattle Storm, where Clark attempted only nine shots, with just two in the second half.
Sides emphasized the need for Clark to be more aggressive on offense, stating, “Caitlin Clark needs to shoot at minimum 15 shots a game for us. She’s gotta get shots, we got to do a better job of setting her up and setting some really good screens for her to get her open.”
Despite ranking 11th in the WNBA for total field goal attempts this season with 223, Clark’s average of 11.7 attempts per game places her outside the top 15 in the league. In contrast, her teammate Kelsey Mitchell has taken 245 shots, averaging 13.6 attempts per game. This disparity in shot attempts has led fans to criticize both the coaching strategy and Clark’s teammates for not facilitating more opportunities for the young star.
Fans expressed their frustrations on social media, with one commenting, “Between Aliyah Boston’s best friend throwing shade at CC’s play style and NaLyssa screaming ‘everyone eats’ idk why we are shocked. Her teammates have neutered her game. All their complaining has turned into this passive play style.” Another fan added, “She was doing that early in the season then you decided it was all about ‘paint touches’ and you turned her into Evolutionary Steve Nash, now you want her to go back to the first 9 games? Shaddup.”
Early in the season, Clark averaged 13.6 field goal attempts per game over the first nine games, yet the team only secured one victory during that span. However, in the last 10 games, where Indiana has gone 6-4, Clark’s average shot attempts have dropped to just over 10 per game. This shift has left fans and analysts questioning the team’s strategy and how best to utilize Clark’s scoring potential.
Sides’ comments highlight the ongoing struggle to balance Clark’s individual talent with the team’s overall performance. While the coach recognizes the need for more offensive output from Clark, finding the right approach remains a challenge. As the season progresses, the Fever will need to address these concerns to maximize Clark’s contributions and improve their standing in the league.
