Caitlin Clark has concluded her impressive inaugural season in the professional league, and already, discussions are buzzing about her future performance.

Clark enjoyed a remarkable season in the WNBA, setting records and emerging as a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.

After guiding Indiana to their first playoff spot since 2016, Clark and the Fever faced a seasoned Connecticut Sun squad, who swept them in the playoffs, winning Game 2 with a score of 87-81 on Wednesday. Now, as Clark returns to Indiana, she’s preparing for what could be her longest layoff from competitive basketball. However, that doesn’t imply she’ll be idle; her opponents might be in for trouble as she’s likely to improve.

“Basketball has really taken over my life this past year,” Clark remarked following the loss, recalling how last October, the Iowa women played a special game in Kinnick Stadium due to the massive demand for Clark’s presence.

“The first couple of weeks off will feel a bit strange for me,” she noted. “But soon enough, I’m sure I’ll get bored and start practicing again.”

So, how much more can she improve? Let’s analyze three key metrics that often spark discussion about Clark: scoring, passing, and turnovers.

Given that New York guard Sabrina Ionescu, now entering her fifth season, offers a strong comparison in terms of position, size, and skills, it makes sense to evaluate Ionescu’s statistics, particularly relating to shooting.

It’s also essential to note that as the WNBA expands — with teams set to play a record 44 regular-season games in 2025 — Clark will have more chances to break various records.

Caitlin Clark is likely to improve her shooting in 2025

Known for her ability to make deep three-point shots and to take a shot as soon as she crosses mid-court, Clark had a solid shooting year in 2024. She recorded a shooting percentage of 41.7%, ranking her as the 20th best shooter among WNBA guards this season.

Clark’s shooting percentage fluctuated during her time at Iowa — starting at 47.2% her freshman year, then falling to 45.2%, before rising to 47.3%, and finally landing at 45.5% in her senior year. It’s highly likely that her accuracy will improve in her second pro season, especially from beyond the arc, where she shot 34.4% this season. During her senior year at Iowa, she achieved a 37.8% shooting percentage from long range.

In comparison, Ionescu experienced a steady increase in her shooting percentage during her early seasons in the league, moving from 37.9% in 2021 to 42.3% in 2023, and hitting 39.4% in this year’s 38 regular-season games. After experiencing lower percentages in her first two years, Ionescu’s three-point shooting surged to 44.8% in 2023. (She had a limited season in 2020 due to an ankle injury.)

While Clark will likely evolve into a more effective scorer at the professional level, defenders will also become more adept at containing her.

“In this league, it feels like you’re facing all the top achievers in one space,” remarked Seattle guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, one of the WNBA’s top perimeter defenders. “Everyone in this league has skills and can be a threat. When defending scorers, you aim to make them take challenging shots and feel uncomfortable. You constantly try to eliminate their preferred options.”

Humorously, she added, “you’re also just hoping they miss.”

For guards in particular, Diggins-Smith highlighted that the initial seasons in the WNBA consist of “a lot of hands-on experiences, as there’s limited training camp or practice. You really learn through playing, and eventually, the game becomes more manageable.”

In conclusion: Expect Clark’s shooting statistics, especially from beyond the arc, to improve. A crucial statistic to watch will be the number of shots she attempts per game. This season, she placed 11th in this category (among all 144 players), but there is potential for her to increase that number as Indiana continues to adopt a quicker pace of play.

Caitlin Clark’s turnovers are bound to decrease

Clark led the WNBA in turnovers during her rookie year, averaging 5.6 per game, but this was somewhat expected. The simple fact of having the ball in her possession more than anyone else typically results in a higher turnover rate.

Finding an accurate comparison for Clark is challenging. She embodies a high-risk, high-reward style of play, and when in the right rhythm, she operates at a rapid pace. Many of her turnovers stem from these calculated risks.

Meanwhile, other top playmakers in the league — like Ionescu, Alyssa Thomas from Connecticut, and Courtney Vandersloot from New York — have less shooting responsibility due to stronger support from their teammates. This allows them to maintain lower turnover rates.

However, as these veteran passers can confirm from their own journeys, the more Clark competes alongside her teammates and develops rapport with them, the fewer turnovers she will incur. She’ll also cultivate a sharper instinct for navigating defenses — understanding which defenders are vulnerable to her passes and which are not.

Passing will define Caitlin Clark’s game

Fans admire Clark for her shooting skills, but true enthusiasts recognize that her true standout quality is her passing ability.

“You can’t defend someone’s vision or their unselfishness,” remarked Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, a veteran of 16 years in the league. “Certain traits are intrinsic, and she has a natural talent for passing the ball. Her passing is the finest aspect of her game. While people often focus on her long-distance shots, she has the ability to dismantle any defense.”

In simpler terms, Clark possesses a rare ability to see the plays unfolding around her, which makes anticipating her next move quite difficult.

Clark also shares qualities with one of the legends of women’s basketball when it comes to being a versatile player. Diana Taurasi, known as the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA, has always been a challenging opponent due to her all-around game, or so her teammates say.

“Facing DT was incredibly tough,” said Natasha Cloud, currently a guard for the Mercury and a former teammate of Taurasi’s, who played eight seasons with the Washington Mystics. “I would finish games with bruises from trying to guard her. She’s tough to defend because she has so many skills. What makes her exceptionally dangerous is her passing ability.”

According to Diggins-Smith, guarding an exceptional passer like Clark highlights the significance of teamwork in defense.

“When you’re up against skilled point guards, it’s all about disrupting their vision and employing different defensive strategies,” Diggins-Smith explained. “Everyone needs to get involved and put their hands in passing lanes. It’s not just a one-on-one battle; it requires a unified team effort. Discipline is key.”

Hammon agreed with this assessment.

“You must vary your defense against players who understand the game so well,” she noted. “You have to create discomfort for them. Once you master passing as a weapon, it makes you nearly impossible to defend against.”

This is great news for Clark and the Fever, but daunting for those who must defend her.