It’s time to say the quiet part out loud: Caitlin Clark needs some help.
Caitlin Clark is stellar. There’s no denying that. Her no-fear mentality is part of what makes her so dangerous on the basketball court. She’s not afraid to shoot the lights out of the gym. But that’s actually part of the problem.
Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball goes as Clark goes. The team is getting little else from the roster when she isn’t producing. The Hawkeyes could be in for a very long season if it’s not fixed soon.
The foundation of Iowa’s offensive production is already showing cracks with a narrow win against Virginia Tech on November 9 and a stunning upset loss to Kansas State on Thursday. In both games, Clark put up over 30 shots.
That’s not a sustainable model for success.
Caitlin Clark shot 28.1% from the field. She missed 23 field goal attempts, the first time in her career she missed 20-plus shots in a game. (Via @ESPNStatsInfo) pic.twitter.com/hzkQkii6hs
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) November 17, 2023
It’s not that Caitlin Clark can’t lead the Hawkeyes. It’s that she shouldn’t have to.
Last season, Iowa had production from other areas on the floor, such as Monika Czinano in the post. Czinano provided a much-needed burst of quick but effective points that helped to offset any team imbalances.
This season, the Hawkeyes are sorely missing Czinano’s production and opted not to bring in a possible portal transfer like LSU’s Aneesah Morrow or North Carolina’s Maria Gakdeng. Unfortunately, that’s proving to be a costly decision.
Paging, Iowa. Where is the Robin to Caitlin Clark’s Batman? Where are The Avengers? That’s probably enough superhero references. But you get the point.
Somebody help!
