Christie Sides Reveals Blunt Feedback for Caitlin Clark Before Fever Game

Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides shared the constructive feedback she had for star rookie Caitlin Clark.

Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides yells at her team Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. / Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Caitlin Clark has been sensational for the Indiana Fever in her rookie season. In fact, Clark just won WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for putting up 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists since play resumed following the Olympics break.

Yet, there is one thing both many of her fans and now her coach have asked her to do more of. Shoot. Especially in the fourth quarter. Clark only took two shots in the final frame in the team's win over the Atlanta Dream, and one sequence where she passed up an open midrange was widely shared on social media.

When Caitlin is 10 feet behind the arc teams risk limbs & lives to contest it

Wide open at the FT in the 4th and they didn’t even flinch

To me that says the scouting report is out. Stay home, dont let her passing beat you cause she isn’t looking to score pic.twitter.com/h6abpd70mg

— Future Of The Retro (@TraeK_) August 27, 2024

Sides addressed the seeming lack of aggression from her star point guard before the squad's game against the Connecticut Sun and offered some constructive criticism.

Sides stated, "I love the fact that she is a playmaker first...I love that. We've had a of conversations in the last 24 hours about a lot of shots that she needs to take that she wasn't taking. Especially in the fourth quarter of that Atlanta game. She agreed...with her ankle a little bit, just didn't feel comfortable at times. But those are shots that she needs to take for us."

Coach Christy Sides on Caitlin being more aggressive in the 4th quarter. #WNBA #FeverRising #Caitlinclark pic.twitter.com/BUllRHuYxs

— Ken Swift (@kenswift) August 28, 2024

It would make sense if Caitlin was thrown off by her ankle injury, even if she did call herself soft for how she reacted to it. Still, there has been a bit of pattern at times of Clark backing off the gas pedal late or passing up shots in the in between range.

It's hard to find anything to take issue with when it comes to how Clark has played, but the Fever will need her at her absolute best come playoff time. As is, she's already playing about as well as anyone in the league.