Sue Bird’s Remarks About Caitlin Clark, Indiana, Cause Fever To React Bluntly
WNBA legend Sue Bird recently shared her thoughts on the Indiana Fever’s success, picking up back-to-back wins since the season resumed. The WNBA’s hiatus for the Summer Olympics gave the Fever a chance to step away from the chaos of the bright lights around Caitlin Clark and the expectations surrounding the team. After they were able to regroup and further build chemistry within the roster, Indiana has won two straight games against teams above .500 in the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm.
Bird believes one thing has been setting the Fever apart. She thinks the pace of play, which has been ushered by Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, has the ability to overpower teams. Both players are playing at an extremely high level, and it seems their connection continues to improve every game.
“What I’ve learned in my WNBA experience is pace of play trumps physicality, it trumps size, it can trump experience,” Bird said. “What I see in Caitlin [Clark], what I see in Kelsey Mitchell, they’re ramming it down people’s throats.” Sue Bird had a successful WNBA career that spanned from 2002-22, so her opinion weighs heavy on the women’s basketball community. She finished her WNBA career as a four-time WNBA champion and thirteen-time WNBA All-Star. Following Bird’s statement, the Indiana Fever responded to the league legend, sending their input on the highlights of Sue Bird’s quote.
“It’s about pace,” said the Indiana Fever’s official social media admin. Caitlin Clark is currently averaging 17.8 points and 8.3 assists per game, leading all rookies in both categories while leading the WNBA as a whole in average assists. Her backcourt partner, Kelsey Mitchell, has averaged 17.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
The seven-year WNBA veteran has seen her average of points and minutes slightly decline, but the 28-year-old is having one of the most efficient seasons of her career, shooting a career-high 45% from the field. Indiana Fever guards Caitlin Clark (22) and Kelsey Mitchell (0) Michael Chow / USA TODAY NETWORK Michael Chow / USA TODAY NETWORK The Fever are in a prime position to make their first postseason appearance since 2016, and much of that has to do with the success around their offense with Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Indiana will look to continue their win streak on Aug. 24 when they take on the Minnesota Lynx at 8 p.m. ET on the road.
