“She doesn’t waste reps.” Fever coach Stephanie White said of Caitlin Clark‘s work ethic, “She literally embodies the ‘How you do anything is how you do everything’ — whether it’s a ball-handling drill, or a shooting drill, or setting screens.” When you’re the star of the league, that is the norm. When Clark entered the league last year, she faced intense physicality from teams to throw her off. Despite those efforts, Clark still managed to win Rookie of the Year but understood well that life in the W will not be easy without some muscle, something she was told by Iowa’s associate strength and conditioning coach, Lindsay Alexander.

“Obviously she’s a one-of-a-kind basketball player, but the thing is, she’s not a one-of-a-kind person in the weight room. She has this very high skill set in basketball, but her physical development could really be improved.” said Alexander in 2024. Learning from all the advice, CC began work in the gym this offseason. It soon began to pay off as those around the league noticed Clark getting bulkier. “That is something that a lot of people have also been talking about online with Caitlin Clark. It seems like she has already gotten a little bit bulkier since the end of the season,” remarked national analyst Rachel DeMita. But while many claimed it to be a “hoax,” Coach Stephanie White stepped in to settle the matter. “She is stronger, first and foremost. She’s got a lot of self-awareness. She figured out right away that ‘I need to get stronger, I can’t get knocked around as much’.” she said earlier this year.

While the boost in physicality would surely boost Clark’s performances this season, another aspect of her play has demanded improvements from the fans. Her defense. Drawing comparisons to Luka Doncic, fans highlight how both are excellent with the ball in their hands but often struggle on the defensive end. So the opposition naturally exploits them in the Playoffs, not just scoring easy points but also draining their best offensive player. And while many would treat it as a far-fetched example, Coach White’s squad set up might reveal it isn’t too different.

After a season filled with defensive woes, White brought in defensive reinforcements as her first order of business. Adding the former Defensive Player of the Year, Natasha Howard, along with Brianna Turner and DeWanna Bonner, made sure the Fever locked up the paint. While defense in general was a point for improvement under Stephanie, a focus on interior defense provides another parallel between Luka and Clark. During Luka’s time with the Mavs, they would mostly play with a center who can protect the paint, as Doncic was often beaten off the dribble.

Clark faced similar treatment in the Playoffs last year, getting picked on the defensive end. While her physicality has caught up, signs from the preseason show her defense still lacks. Matching up against rookie Te-Hina PaoPao during the game, Clark’s defensive gaps were brought to the front again as PaoPao comfortably made shots on the drive and beyond the arc. So while fans took to the internet to highlight her defensive inadequacies, her faithful fanbase defended her with claims of their own.

Fans provide their take on Caitlin Clark’s defense

With the criticism surrounding the Fever guard’s defense getting louder, a fan stepped in to remind us of the unreal expectations often placed on stars. “Why, only in the case of CC, is a player responsible for carrying the offense expected to simultaneously be the best defender on the team?” the fan posted on X. Clark averages an offensive usage rate of 30.3% across the first two games of the preseason, ranking amongst the highest in the league. This signifies the offensive load on Clark shoulders and hence it leads to a slight decline in her defensive performances.

Another fan provided a perspective which explained how CC might be benefiting the defensive end indirectly. “Exactly, Caitlin Clark is the offensive system, and a player has to go all out on defense to merely somewhat limit her. This causes their offense to fall off a cliff. The best defense is more offense.” The task of guarding the player who has the ball in her hands for almost the whole game requires elite level conditioning and an undying spirit. Another user mentioned statistics from last season to back it up, showing Kahleah Cooper and Kayla McBride‘s poor performances from the field against Indiana. While Kahleah went 3-15 against them, Kayla only managed a shot more and finished 4-14 on the night.

Although the fans can defend their stars for days, another fan’s take on Luka Doncic might have lessons for the Fever moving forward. “Anthony Edwards was driving past everyone they just hunted Luka cause he is the worst defender.” While the take might be harsh, it’s no shock that Luka is not the best defender on the Lakers, and it was a matchup that was consistently exploited by Ant-Man’s side to knock the Lakers out of the Playoffs. It once again highlights the importance of matchups when Playoffs swing around and that Clark’s defense will be one of the keys to a deep Playoff run.

While the fans continue to draw comparisons to Luka Doncic, calling her out on defense, she must understand the comfort it provides her team when they can rely on her to defend as well. Something Steph Curry has done for the Warriors. But for the face of women’s basketball, it’s not a matter of if, it is just a matter of when. And while the chirping will continue to grow, so will Clark’s mental fortitude. Season 2 begins now.