Caitlin Clark's rookie season shows she is outshooting Steph Curry and Damian Lillard

By John Ezekiel Hirro

Modified Aug 24, 2024 20:49 GMT

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is revolutionizing the WNBA with her shooting and playmaking skills. A statistic reveals that Clark is outshooting NBA greats like Steph Curry and Damian Lillard in terms of the distance of her 3-point shots.

According to StatMamba, Clark is shooting from an average distance of 28.09 feet this season. This surpasses the longest average shooting distances of Curry and Lillard from their respective peak years. Curry’s highest season average is 27.58 feet, while Lillard’s is 27.68 feet. Trae Young also surpasses them with a 27.94-foot average distance.

See the stat below:

Clark’s achievement is even more remarkable considering the WNBA 3-point line is 22.15 feet, shorter than the NBA’s 23.75 feet.

Through 28 games this season, Clark is averaging 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists. She is shooting 41.2% from the field, 32.8% from 3-point range on 8.5 attempts per game and 89.3% from the free-throw line.

The Indiana Fever have been on a winning streak since the WNBA’s Olympic break. After 28 games, they have a 13-15 record, placing them seventh in the league and securing a playoff spot.

Sue Bird discusses Caitlin Clark’s impact on the Fever

The Indiana Fever are fifth in the league for pace, averaging 97.07, thanks to Caitlin Clark’s point guard skills. Her playmaking and ability to exploit transition opportunities can catch opponents off guard, creating a quick-strike offense for the Fever.

Sue Bird mentioned on the “A Touch More” podcast that the Fever’s fast pace makes them a threat to slower teams in the playoffs:

“I think what I've learned in my WNBA experience is that the pace of play trumps physicality. It trumps size. It can trump experience. Because a lot of times when you're experienced, it's really like code word for you’re a veteran, which is code for old.

“And what I see in Caitlin, what I see in Kelsey Mitchell, they're just like ramming it down people's throats. And it's really hard; it can have your head spinning.”

The Fever are not solely reliant on Caitlin Clark. Besides her, they have three other double-digit scorers.

Kelsey Mitchell averages 17.7 points per game, Aliyah Boston contributes 14.0 points along with career highs of 9.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 blocks per game and NaLyssa Smith adds 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

The Fever have 12 games remaining, with the next five—over a nine-day stretch—against strong teams such as the Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, Connecticut Sun and Chicago Sky. Only the game against the Sun will be at home.

After that, they’ll have six consecutive home games against the LA Sparks, Lynx, Dream, the Aces twice and the Dallas Wings. They will end their regular season on Sept. 19 against the Washington Mystics.

According to Tankathon, Caitlin Clark's team has the easiest remaining schedule, which puts them in a prime position to reach the playoffs.