“The sophomore slump!” You must be wondering, is that even real? Well, it kinda is. It’s not just some made-up sports myth. At the heart of it all is one thing: transition. Think about it like your second year in college. Everything suddenly shifts – maybe you’re rethinking your major, switching friend groups, or just feeling out of place. Athletes aren’t immune to that. Whether it’s mental, physical, or just the pressure, Year 2 hits differently. And for stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, it’s showing up loud and clear, especially in the form of a good old shooting slump.

Now, don’t get it wrong, this “slump” doesn’t mean everything’s going downhill. There’s also growth, especially when you look at what Reese has been up to in Chicago. Sure, the Sky hasn’t exactly been crushing it this season. And yes, that viral clip of Angel missing four straight putback attempts against the Liberty back on May 22 was brutal. Social media had a field day with it. But she’s still crashing the boards. That effort never left.

But for the Sky to actually start winning games, Reese knew she had to do more than rebound. Well, she’s doing exactly that. With Courtney Vandersloot out for the season, Reese has tapped into a whole different skillset – one most people didn’t even know she had. She used to be a point guard back in the day, and it’s showing now. 

Against the Sun, she started flashing those passing chops, and suddenly, point-forward Angel Reese was re-born. She is making moves in a stat we usually only link to Caitlin Clark: assists. Reese is currently third in the league for the highest increase in assists per game compared to last season. Last year, she averaged just 1.9. This season, she’s up to 3.6. That’s a +1.7 jump.

Then came her biggest flex yet- her first career triple-double: 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. That wasn’t just another stat line; that was a statement that she’s going deeper into her bag and starting to shape a role kind of like Alyssa Thomas. You know, not a volume shooter, but incredibly smart with her looks. Thomas usually takes five to eight shots a night, focuses around the paint, boards hard, and finds open teammates. 

Now, while Reese is starting to expand her game, the spotlight (and the pressure) is still very much on Clark. And well… we all know how that’s going. Before she was sidelined with a groin injury, her numbers had dipped – big time. Over her last three games, she shot just 27.7% from the field (13-of-47) and a wild 4.3% from deep (1-of-23). 

But even in the slump, she’s been doing everything else. Against the Aces, she had 10 assists. Then, 9 more against Golden State. And again, a solid passing game against Seattle. Her vision’s still sharp, and she’s keeping the Fever moving. Right now, she’s averaging 8.5 assists per game, which is one of the best in the league. So the shots haven’t been falling, but she is still contributing. But that’s where the injury comes in, which could explain the shooting woes.

But you know what? It’s not just her. The whole league seems to be in the same boat right now.

Not just Caitlin Clark, the whole league’s in a slump – But why?

Caitlin Clark’s three-point slump has been one of the biggest headlines in the WNBA this past week. But you know actually the entire league seems to be going through it right now. Basketball analyst Trysta Krick laid it out plain and simple on Threads with a June 26 post, and the numbers were kinda shocking. 

Sabrina Ionescu was 2-for-17 from deep in her last two games. Paige Bueckers is also 2-for-17 in her last five. Marina Mabrey, Kelsey Plum, Arike Ogunbowale, Chelsea Gray, Breanna Stewart – same story, different names. Everyone’s struggling to find the bottom of the net. Even Breanna Stewart’s 6-for-20 stretch from three over seven games.

And it’s not just shooters. A’ja Wilson’s name doesn’t even appear on that list, but she’s feeling it too. By her standards, it’s a down year. She’s still putting up 21.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, but her scoring is down from last year’s 26.9 PPG, and she’s shooting a career-low 44% from the field. Her defensive presence is still elite, but the drop in efficiency is clear.

Dig a little deeper and there’s something even more interesting. Wilson’s highest shot volume comes from close range – over 80% of her attempts are within 14 feet of the basket. And yet, she’s shooting just 30% from 5-9 feet out. That’s the lowest percentage from anywhere on the floor for her. So she’s still getting to her spots… just not converting like she used to. 

So what’s going on? Why are the league’s biggest stars all missing shots at the same time? Well, Kelsey Plum had an answer. Responding to Krick’s post on Instagram, she dropped a simple answer: “Cause we’re tired 😂” She’s probably not wrong. This season, the WNBA added four more regular-season games, bumping the total from 40 to 44. But they didn’t extend the length of the season to accommodate those extra matchups. So what we’ve got now is a jam-packed schedule that’s leaving very little room for rest or recovery. Travel days are tighter, back-to-backs are rougher, and bodies are getting worn out faster.

Even for world-class athletes, that kind of grind adds up. Fatigue affects mechanics, timing, and confidence, especially when you’re trying to shoot through tired legs or nurse nagging injuries. The league is growing, the spotlight is bigger than ever, and the pressure’s high… but the bodies are just human.

So Caitlin Clark’s slump is a thing. But it’s also part of a much bigger trend across the league. Until there’s a serious conversation about schedule pacing and recovery, don’t be surprised if this shooting slump lingers a little longer than anyone wants.