Caitlin Clark needs more shots to develop into an MVPcaliber player

Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides wants her star rookie Caitlin Clark to get more shots. Clark is having a tremendous rookie season, leading WNBA rookies in points, assists, field goals made and field goals attempted. At a tick over 12 shots per game, she ranks second on the Fever in field goals attempted per game, one behind Kelsey Mitchell – who plays nearly four fewer minutes per game than Clark.Best porn XXX. If Caitlin Clark is to ascend to the MVP level that Indiana wants, Sides is right. She needs more opportunities. To date, the former Iowa superstar’s shot attempts haven’t had an effect on the Fever’s record. In the team’s seven wins she has taken 12.2 shots per game. In 12 Fever losses she has taken 12.1. Sides wants her to get 15, though, a number she’s reached in six games this year. “Caitlin Clark needs to shoot a minimum of 15 shots a game for us,” Sides said after Thursday’s loss at the Seattle Storm. “She’s got to get shots, and we’ve got to do a better job of setting her up, setting some really good screens for her to get her open.” The Fever believe Clark can develop an MVP-caliber player in the WNBA, but to continue her ascension towards that goal she will need to take more shots. Here are the field goals attempted per game by each of the last five WNBA MVPs. 2023: Breanna Stewart – 17.0 2022: A’ja Wilson – 14.4 2021: Jonquel Jones – 13.8 2020: Wilson – 15.7 2019: Elena Delle Donne – 13.8 All five averaged more looks than Clark is currently getting, though it’s worth mentioning that all five are also listed as forwards or centers. Below are the field goals attempted by guards who were named MVP. 2009: Diana Taurasi – 14.0 2005: Sheryl Swoopes – 14.7 2002: Swoopes – 15.9 2000: Swoopes – 15.6 1998: Cynthia Cooper – 15.8 1997: Cooper – 14.5 It makes for an even more significant contrast when comparing Clark’s volume to fellow guards who won MVP. She is taking at least two shots fewer per game. A drop in her output was expected as she transitioned from the college ranks to professional basketball. At Iowa, Clark averaged 20 shots per game, but through her first 19 games in the WNBA she is 22nd in the league in field goals attempted per game, with 12 other guards ahead of her. The reasoning behind Sides plea is simple. She wants her best player getting the most shots possible. But it’s not easy when Clark is facing defenses designed to make her give up the ball. Still, just because the ball is out of her hands doesn’t mean she is ineffective. She’s averaging 6.6 assists per game, good for fourth in the league.  “The way people guard her, it’s tough,” Sides said Thursday. “Once the ball is out of her hands, she is setting up the rest of our team for some really great looks. She’s getting some pretty good looks [for herself] off the ball. But we like her on the ball, so we have to figure out how to manage the two.” More must-reads: Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!