For the last three years, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston have been at the center of the Indiana Fever’s offense. Their pick-and-roll offense has become a staple of the team and has led to high production. But a WNBA legend feels this duo, which has been dominating the league, can be stopped and even outlined a plan to do so.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Post Moves podcast, where Clark was the special guest, three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker was asked about her approach to stopping the Clark-Boston duo.

“I think just for instance, I like the tough switch,” Parker said in reply. “So, I like switch, and then to be honest with you, I would bring the double baseline for Aliyah. Obviously, I would ice on this side, and I would force her to her right shoulder on that side. Coz I got that scouting report on her. I got that right shoulder. I’m going to make you do it for 40 minutes.”

“And then you, Caitlin, I think, I’ll just make you go downhill because you know, like it makes you tired. To be honest with you, there’s sometimes beauty in taking what defense gives you. Because on the defensive side, me and Aliyah have talked about this all the time. When there’s a scouting report, and the person is killing you, the pride kicks in, and then you stop with the scouting report,” Parker added further.

Given Parker’s accolades as a WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, a two-time WNBA All-Defensive Second Team, and a two-time WNBA blocks leader, it’s quite certain that the plan should generally make sense. For instance, in Boston’s case, Parker is primarily looking to restrict her from making post-up scores, layups, and inbound drives.

It’s one of the major forays of Boston’s offensive prowess. And eliminating it would mostly force the Fever center to look for options. Furthermore, baseline defense also leaves little room for Boston and traps her in the corner, which is another positive of Parker’s plan.

But to defend against Boston’s 6’4 frame continuously for 40 minutes will demand a humongous effort from any defender. On the contrary, it’s the same case with Caitlin Clark. To make Clark go downhill, Parker will have to play defense tightly in man-to-man or use drop coverage.

This might restrict Clark to some extent. But does that take away her entire arsenal? Apparently, not. For a player who has been carrying the ball 94 feet for her team in most of her career, making fast movements in tight situations is second nature for Clark.

And even if the Fever guard gets tired, she can easily create opportunities efficiently through playmaking. All in all, Candace Parker’s plan is quite efficient. But it isn’t entirely clear that it will work efficiently for the entire 40-minute game. Especially with All-Star players like Boston and Clark involved, who have multiple offensive schemes up their sleeves, it will be even more difficult.

But, for Caitlin Clark, the reality of how defenders approach her is very different from how Candace Parker explained.

Caitlin Clark Details Defenders’ Approach Towards Her in the WNBA

Caitlin Clark has never had a comfortable relationship with opposing physicality. The Fever guard has struggled with the defenders’ wrath ever since her foray into the professional circuit. Over time, Clark became the primary ball handler for her team, and the defense just got to her even more.

And in her third season in the league, Clark expects nothing less than that from the defenders. During her time on the Post Moves podcast, the Fever guard shed light on this.

“I think for me it’s the same physicality,” Clark said. “I feel like that’s always what I’m met with. Obviously being a little bit on the shorter side and on the slimmer side. I feel like that’s probably people do the most. I get picked up full court. They’re going to be physical coming off screens. They’re going to be on into me on the ball screen. So, I’m excited that freedom of movement is a point of emphasis.”

With the league’s new officiating regime, where officials aren’t hesitating to hand out fouls, Clark might get a bit more relaxed in this regard. Furthermore, the Indiana Fever has also employed a new off-the-ball role for her, where she won’t have to carry the ball 94 feet on every sequence of play.

So, that is another major positive for Caitlin Clark moving into the season. Yet despite that, Clark will still have to subdue it on some occasions, which will definitely be a challenge, especially after an injury-laden season and her ongoing minor back issues with back stiffness.