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Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson and head coach Becky Hammon got here to the protection of Caitlin Clark on Friday.
“We love Caitlin Clark,” Hammon mentioned concerning the Indiana Fever rookie. “I believe she’s superb. I watched each time I presumably may. And our league loves her.”
“She’s a 22-year-old lady with a variety of stress,” she added. “She’s not good. She’s a rookie on this league. Again off.”
Alex Eschelman @alexeschelman
“Let’s be very clear, we love Caitlin Clark…I believe this narrative of all people hating on her…knock it off it isn’t there.”
Good things right here by @LVAces Head Coach @BeckyHammon and @_ajawilson22 on the nationwide dialog surrounding the @WNBA star rookie. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/kAutGYVth4
Wilson, a former No. 1 general choose within the 2018 WNBA draft, echoed an analogous sentiment.
“She’s studying and rising identical to everybody else,” Wilson mentioned. “I really feel like folks do not give her an opportunity. It is simply progress. We inform our rookies each single day, that is new. You are coming into a complete new world and beginning over.”
After an amazing collegiate profession at Iowa resulted in consecutive NCAA match title recreation appearances, Clark hasn’t skilled an analogous degree of success within the WNBA simply but. Her particular person manufacturing has been spectacular, averaging 17.8 factors and 5.8 assists per recreation.
Whereas Clark’s effectivity has fluctuated to start her profession, she seems to be discovering a scoring rhythm as of late. Over her previous three video games, she’s capturing 45.5 % from the sphere and 36.0 % from three-point vary.
Nonetheless, the Fever have not been capable of safe a win and at present sit on the backside of the Jap Convention standings with a file of 0-5. The shortage of success has led to some criticism of Clark, with some followers questioning if the hype surrounding her out of school was an excessive amount of.
Wilson and Hammon are aware of performing underneath stress, as the 2 are trying to assist the Aces earn a 3rd consecutive championship. They do not seem to have any doubts about Clark’s vivid future within the WNBA.