Caitlin Clark will get candid about media consideration and psychological well being amidst Fever profitable streak

INDIANAPOLIS — Even Caitlin Clark needed to snicker on the latest version to downtown Indianapolis.

In a metropolis not recognized for its scenic skyline, one of many few buildings categorised as a skyscraper could be the JW Marriot. The 376-foot-tall glass constructing sits only a few blocks from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the place the Fever play their dwelling video games.

The constructing’s measurement and site has made it an ideal canvas all through the years for a lot of a show. When Indianapolis hosted the Super Bowl in 2012, a 32-story Vince Lombardi trophy was plastered on the side. Three years later, when town hosted the Final Four, a 47,000-square-foot bracket turned the most important bracket ever created when it was positioned on the resort’s exterior.

Now, staring throughout downtown Indianapolis? Caitlin Clark herself, due to Gatorade.

“I don’t know if I’d say I’m used to it,” Clark — who mentioned she might see the advert from her condo balcony — replied with amusing when requested in regards to the billboard on Friday earlier than the Fever’s sport towards the Mercury. “I imply, you’re driving down the road and it form of takes you again for a second. It’s tremendous cool to be in a metropolis that helps the Fever and our entire group…But I don’t know if that’s actually ever one thing you bought to get used to, seeing your face that giant, on a constructing that giant.”

It’s the newest instance of the vortex of consideration the Fever have been sucked into this season. The highlight has been for causes starting from good, to unhealthy, to desired and typically even undesirable, typically unexpectedly. But the one constant factor is that it’s at all times been overwhelmingly vivid.

It’s been sold-out arenas, record-breaking TV audiences and large Gatorade advertisements. It’s additionally been wave after wave of criticism, critiques and feedback throughout each social media platform, making it nearly inescapable.

From the second Clark was chosen No. 1 general within the 2024 WNBA Draft, all eyes shifted to Indianapolis. Any franchise would have struggled with the amount of consideration that comes with having Clark on the roster, and the Fever have been no totally different.

The league additionally did them few favors to start out the yr, as Indiana bounced from large market to large market, matched up towards the league’s finest groups again and again within the opening weeks. It was a schedule virtually unprecedented in its issue.

While the Fever have been targeted on merely making it out to the opposite aspect internally, the identical grace wasn’t afforded to them externally. A 2-9 begin introduced criticism directed at seemingly everybody, even forcing center Aliyah Boston to delete Twitter from her telephone.

“I don’t get on social media very a lot,” head coach Christie Sides mentioned previous to Indiana’s current sport towards the Mystics. “I don’t know if I might be sitting right here at the moment had I learn all that earlier…The gamers are getting it. If they don’t assume they’ve performed a very good sport, they really feel like ‘Oh I’m going to get killed [on social media]’ and I simply can’t even wrap my head round that as a result of that’s simply not the world I’m from.

“You attempt to inform them to quiet the noise, or simply tune out the noise, however that is the world we stay in at the moment.”

Tuning out the noise has felt like a idiot’s errand at instances this yr, although. The Fever haven’t been a workforce seeking to escalate points on or off the courtroom, however that has mattered little as as to if the mole-hill tales morphed into mountains.

When Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky dedicated a flagrant foul on Clark early within the season, it turned a nationwide debate, Clark acknowledged that it “wasn’t a basketball play” on the ground following the sport however did nothing extra to escalate issues, repeatedly stating “it’s what it’s” postgame.

When the debates took a extra severe, off-court flip and have become about race, Clark was virtually too deferential on the matter earlier than discovering a strong center floor. And when Clark was on the receiving finish of a flagrant foul from Angel Reese, she referred to as it “a part of basketball.”

Every step of the best way, the Fever have tried to quiet the noise and preserve their concentrate on the basketball courtroom. And each step of the best way, the noise has continued nonetheless.

Time and time once more, Clark has discovered herself in the course of debates she by no means requested to be part of, one thing she acknowledged has been troublesome.

“I really feel like I’ve needed to develop up fairly quick,” Clark mentioned earlier than a sport towards the Sky in mid-June. “Like, I’m solely 22 years previous. I really feel youthful than that at instances, and I’m attempting to navigate transferring to a brand new metropolis on my own. I’m attempting to navigate taking part in in a brand new league on high of all the pieces else that has include it. Obviously, I’ve been given a number of wonderful issues in my life and that comes with nice accountability and that’s not something I draw back from, however I feel psychological well being is essential, and I feel it’s one thing lots of people in our nation battle with, particularly younger people.

“I feel the largest factor is don’t be afraid to ask for assist. I can’t accomplish all the pieces in my life. Like, I’m not afraid to ask for assist and inform individuals, ‘Today’s simply not my day’ and that’s okay. Not each day needs to be excellent. There’s individuals round you which can be at all times going to help you and be there for you,” Clark continued. “When you’re within the highlight and other people see your each transfer, it may be taxing.”

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

But because the Fever have tried to navigate the noise, one thing notable has additionally been taking place; typically, seemingly virtually fully within the background of the nationwide discourse about them: They’re profitable video games.

After two wins of their first 11 video games, Indiana has gone 8-5, together with a notable dwelling win over the New York Liberty. They’ve performed their method into the playoffs as the present No. 7 seed.

After profitable simply 13 video games final season, the Fever have already received 10 this yr. Over the final month, they’re fifth within the league in offensive score and sixth in internet score.

Clark presently has a streak of 5 straight double-doubles with factors and assists, one sport shy of the league document. She’s averaging 20.3 factors and 12.5 assists in July and is second within the league in assists for the season. She turned the primary rookie to document a triple-double in a win over the Liberty and practically pulled off a 5×5 stat line towards the Mystics, ending with 29 factors, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and three blocks.

Boston picked up Player of the Week honors in June and has turned her season round after a gradual begin as effectively, averaging 17 factors and 10.2 rebounds during the last month.

It’s neither Clark nor Boston that leads the workforce in scoring in that span, although, because the workforce’s third All-Star, Kelsey Mitchell, is averaging 19.5 factors on 50% capturing from the sector.

Together, the trio is blossoming into the most effective within the league this season. Each rank within the top-15 in scoring within the league during the last month, a feat matched solely by the Las Vegas Aces (A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum).

Now, the eye coming their method doesn’t really feel as loud or destructive. Clark is conscious that each one eyes are going to be on her and the Fever and whereas it may be each good and unhealthy, it’s in the end one thing she wouldn’t have another method.

Even if it means she will’t do issues a standard individual can at instances, even when it means followers will flock to her and her teammates whereas out at dinner and even when it means she’s going to be the middle of a lot discourse throughout her profession, Clark welcomes the eye.

“It’s not something I might ever need to change,” Clark mentioned. “It’s one thing that’s tremendous particular… It’s cool to see the thrill in our neighborhood of how many individuals help us and never solely right here in Indianapolis however, after we’re on the highway, too.

“I nonetheless really feel like a younger child that loves simply basketball and loves the sport and loves being round individuals, and my teammates, and my family and friends, and that’s how I attempt to go about my life, actually.”

You can comply with Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.