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Caitlin Clark struggles on defense: ‘Is she the worst defender in the league?’
TL;DR
Caitlin Clark, known for her scoring prowess, faced criticism for her defensive performance in the Indiana Fever's season opener against the Dallas Wings, where she recorded 20 points but struggled defensively.
Key points
- Caitlin Clark scored 20 points in the season opener.
- She had seven assists and five rebounds during the game.
- Clark is the NCAA's all-time leading scorer.
- She reached 1,000 career points in 54 WNBA games.
- Criticism focuses on her defensive struggles.
Caitlin ClarkIndiana FeverDallas Wings
Jun 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Throughout her collegiate and professional career, Caitlin Clark has developed a reputation as a high-volume scoring machine. She is the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in men’s or women’s basketball and became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career points, achieving this milestone in just 54 games. However, the defensive side of the ball is one area where she has consistently struggled, and those struggles were present again during the team’s season opener.
On Saturday, Clark and the Indiana Fever opened up their season with a showdown against the Dallas Wings. While Clark did tally 20 points, seven assists, and five rebounds in the 107-104 loss, she once again struggled on the defensive side of the ball.
This week, the social media account I Talk Hoops posted a video compilation of Clark’s defensive possessions during Saturday’s game against the Wings, combined with a statistical summary of how Clark’s opponents performed when guarded by her.
Unfortunately for Clark, neither the numbers nor the tape was very good.
I Talk Hoops found that Clark’s opponents scored 25 points when being defended by the Fever star, making 9 of 12 shots from the field. And the video backed those stats up.
Clark has never exactly been billed as a lockdown defender, even going back to her college days, and it’s certainly not unheard of for high-scoring players to struggle on the defensive end, but the video and the stats from Saturday’s game were so jarring that it sparked some strong reactions from fans.
“Had this discussion yesterday. Is she the worst defender in the league? She’s at the least the worst of the star players. If not her then who? I think for as good as she is offensively, especially her vision (not 3 shooting). She can’t give up 25 pts a game if they are going to be a contender,” one fan wrote .
Q&A
What were Caitlin Clark's stats in the season opener against the Dallas Wings?
In the season opener, Caitlin Clark scored 20 points, had seven assists, and five rebounds.
Why is Caitlin Clark criticized for her defense?
Caitlin Clark has consistently struggled on the defensive side throughout her career, leading to questions about her defensive abilities.
How quickly did Caitlin Clark reach 1,000 career points in the WNBA?
Caitlin Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career points, achieving this milestone in just 54 games.
What did social media highlight about Caitlin Clark's defense during the game?
A video compilation posted on social media showcased Clark's defensive possessions and included a statistical summary of her opponents' performance when guarded by her.
