WNBA legend Sue Bird believes that Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark poses a significant threat in the playoffs, citing her exceptional pace of play and record-breaking performances.
In a recent episode of her podcast "A Touch More" with Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, a four-time WNBA champion and 13-time All-Star, shared her concerns about facing Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in the playoffs.
Bird, renowned for her exceptional court vision and leadership, emphasized the importance of pace of play in the WNBA. "In 2018 and 2020, the years we won, that was our whole mantra – pace, pace, pace, pace," she explained.
Sue Bird Warns WNBA Teams About Caitlin Clark's Playoff Threat
She highlighted the relentless pace of Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, stating, "They're just ramming it down people's throats. And it's really hard – it can have your head spinning."
Bird expressed her admiration for Clark's rapid development and record-breaking achievements. "She's gonna break records nonstop for the next couple of years. It's just going to be a constant record break."
Sue Bird Warns WNBA Teams About Caitlin Clark's Playoff Threat
However, she also recognized that other players in the league need to adapt to Clark's style of play. "The only thing that I find most interesting is at the start of the season everybody had their panties in a twist over Caitlin getting picked up full court and Caitlin being denied, and what I'm not surprised by is naturally during a WNBA season, teams and players start to get a little tired," she said.
Bird noted that Clark is adjusting well to the physicality of the game and playing smarter. "She's definitely getting used to it which is, you know, trouble for everybody else that's why I don't want to see her [in the playoffs]."
Sue Bird Warns WNBA Teams About Caitlin Clark's Playoff Threat
Clark recently broke the WNBA's rookie assists record, adding to her impressive resume. She has scored at least 20 points in five of her last six games, averaging 23.7 points on 47% shooting from the field and 11.7 assists over that span.
As the Fever look to secure a playoff spot, Bird's warning serves as a reminder of the formidable threat that Clark poses to her opponents. With her exceptional pace of play and ability to create scoring opportunities, she could become a major force in the WNBA postseason.
Sue Bird Warns WNBA Teams About Caitlin Clark's Playoff Threat
