At 22, Caitlin Clark had the highest basketball IQ of any player on the court. She was the fastest in any given game for Iowa. But just as Achilles had his heel, the former Hawkeyes star had a considerable weakness on the court—her strength, or rather, the lack of it. “She has this very high skill set in basketball, but her physical development could really be improved,” shared Lindsay Alexander in an interview with Business Insider. And that weakness became noticeable even in her first season with the team. So, Clark did everything she could. From sprints, squats, lunges, and deadlifts to ankle stability drills and more—she pushed her limits. By the time she transitioned to the W, she had already gained eight pounds of muscle. But still, it wasn’t quite enough, considering the physicality of the pro league. Once again, she became a target. But this time, she knew the assignment. Learning from her rookie debut, Clark spent a lot more time in the weight room this offseason. And here she is. But still, if you feel she’s 100% ready for the W—you might be wrong.

No doubt, the Fever wrapped up a perfect 3-0 preseason after an 81-76 win against the Atlanta Dream, with Clark—as usual—under the spotlight. Though she sat out her first game against the Mystics, her 36-foot three-pointer from the very spot where she broke the NCAA scoring record was enough to electrify the sold-out crowd of 14,998.

Notably, the 2024 Rookie of the Year shot 11-for-21 overall, including 7-for-14 from three-point range in her preseason appearances. On top of that, she averaged nearly six rebounds, six assists, and close to three turnovers per game. But even with all that, the Indiana Fever sensation doesn’t feel like she’s 100% there yet.

Before taking on the Chicago Sky in the regular season opener on May 17, she opened up:
“For myself, like, I know there’s so much room for me to improve.” Sure, that’s how superstars talk—but if you dig deeper, you’ll find holes even in her preseason games.

Consider this: she played 42 minutes across games against the Dream and a Brazilian roster, yet Clark did not attempt a single free throw. So it makes sense that the 23-year-old wasn’t exactly invisible to the refs either, who tagged her with four personal fouls in total.

Well, limiting herself surely isn’t going to work—especially since the Fever guard averages 4.5 free throw attempts per game, tied for 12th most in the league. But Clark understands what her fans want, and here she is with a six-word powerful message, “I crave wanting to be better… I know I can get a lot better. I don’t think I’ve arrived by any means. I don’t think I’m at the peak of my game yet.”

It’s a reality check—one that shows her greatness isn’t rooted in numbers alone but in her hunger to grow. And that hunger? It’s only getting louder.

Clark’s résumé from Year 1 is wild. She led the WNBA in assists (8.4 per game), ranked seventh in scoring (19.2), and landed among the top 20 in both rebounds and steals. She finished fourth in MVP voting—unheard of for a rookie—and helped the Fever reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

But ask her how she feels heading into Year 2, and it’s not about what she did—it’s about what’s next.

“I’ve been in this league for a year now,” Clark said. “I know I belong. I know I can perform, and I know I can make my teammates better every single night.”

Well, she might already be better than she was in her rookie debut, but Year 2 brings with it even bigger expectations.

Will she be able to accomplish those goals?

Maybe… especially since she’s now supported by a new head coach who’s all in on her evolution.

With a bigger aim, Stephanie White guides Caitlin Clark.

When White took over the throne as the Indiana Fever’s head coach, she already knew the game-changer her team had. So, she crafted a multifaceted strategy not just to reach the Championship this season, but to elevate Clark’s performance.

First, she recognized the physical demands of the league—and then she got Clark to work.

“Like, if you’re a professional, like, you make your calendar, you make your schedule, you make your routine, you make your workouts,” shared Clark. Her toned muscles started showing up during the offseason itself, but when she stepped onto the court in the preseason game, the transformation was clear.

Her unpredictable finishes, off-ball movements, and enhanced strength were undeniably in the spotlight. And that was yet another goal White had set for her.

“Where we can improve is our ability to score off of cuts with this roster,” White shared this offseason. “We can use a lot of off-ball screening action with the lineup that we have. I think we can force mismatches and look to attack mismatches a little bit more. We’ve got a high-IQ team.”

But White knew it wouldn’t be Clark alone—so she started building the team around her. The limited time Clark spent on the court was just a repercussion of that. Players like Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, DeWanna Bonner, and Sophie Cunningham stepped up in her absence. And not just that—they even helped her throughout, making sure her presence was felt on the court.

So, it makes sense why Clark is aiming to be even better this offseason.