Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings are set to take on the Indiana Fever, who will be without Caitlin Clark. On June 26, the Dallas rookie opened up on the expectations and pressures Clark faces in the WNBA.
During the team’s practice before the June 27 matchup between the Wings and Fever, Bueckers addressed the media and answered questions regarding the Indiana superstar.
“She handles it with grace,” said Bueckers. “The pressure that she is put on every single night to perform at the level that she does is inhumane really.”
Clark’s Humanity
Indiana suffered an 85-75 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on June 26. The team was without Clark, who missed Thursday’s game due to a left groin injury.
In the 23-year-old’s last game against the Seattle Storm, she struggled to find her rhythm shooting 23% from the field, and she missed all six of her three-point attempts.
Earlier this season, the Fever guard missed five games due to a quad strain. While the WNBA is a physical league, Indiana head coach Stephanie White has been critical of the officiating this season.
Clark took the WNBA by storm with her stellar rookie season and is trying to conduct a masterful sophomore campaign. However, her offensive abilities and feel for the game create hefty expectations.
During Bueckers’ press conference on June 26, she talked about the unfair expectations of perfection that people place on Clark. “To expect people to be perfect every night and not have off games or off nights. If she doesn’t go 8-for-10 from three, people are questioning things,” said Bueckers.
“It’s unfair to have to deal with that but I’m sure she has a great team around her and great people to help her.”
“I know she’s a great person at dealing with it and just tuning out the noise and just continuing to be there for herself and for the team. The expectations, it’s tough when you listen to it, so I’m sure she has a great way of tuning it out.”
Turning the Paige
Both Clark and Bueckers were selected No. 1 overall in the respective draft classes. During the rookie guard’s media time on June 26, she also addressed how she handles pressure.
“For me, it’s like the pressure I put on myself, I am a perfectionist,” said Bueckers. “I think every shot I shoot should go in, so when it doesn’t, um, but then also like she talked about, just being able to give yourself grace and that you are not perfect and there is going to be ups and downs.”
“There’s going to be good games, there’s going to be bad games but as long as you keep it forward and keep pushing and keep learning and growing from game to game, that’s all you can ask for.”
Bueckers is averaging 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.7% from the field. She is leading the team in points, assists, and steals (1.8) per game.
The Wings are on a one-game winning streak after an impressive 68-55 win over the Atlanta Dream on June 24.
Dallas is 12th in league standings at 4-12 on the season. Despite their record, they are top five in rebounds (36.9), blocks (4.5), and free-throw percentage (79.9).
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