Learning opportunities for Caitlin Clark despite her incredible first year in the WNBA

Rarely has an athlete faced the pressure and scrutiny that Caitlin Clark was faced with entering her rookie season in the WNBA following her record-breaking NCAA career at Iowa.

Despite the pressure on her shoulders, Clark performed exceptionally, winning Rookie of the Year and leading her Indiana Fever team to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The superstar rookie led the Fever to a .500 record of 20 wins and 20 losses, helping them finish sixth in the standings. ESPN reports Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists.

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The Caitlin Clark effect put more bums on seats at WNBA arenas, helped send merchandise sales through the roof, and got people talking about women's basketball globally.

However, with extreme highs come some pretty bad lows, and Clark did experience some things she hopes to move on from and forget about as she gears up for her second season in the WNBA.

The Fever started the regular season 1-8, and the playoffs looked like an impossible ambition. However, after turning the tide with some electric performances, the Fever found themselves in the first round of the playoffs, matching up against the Connecticut Suns.

Clark and the Fever's postseason dream was ended before it started. They were swept after a demoralizing 93-69 loss in game one and an 87-81 loss in game two.

On a personal level, Clark's game-one performance was one of the lowest points of her season. She scored only 11 points in 36 minutes for the Fever and failed to make an impact on the biggest stage of women's basketball.

The Indiana Fever guard has become the headline attraction in the WNBA, much to the distaste of her fellow competitors. This season, she has endured plenty of physical torture on the floor in an apparent tactic to intimidate the rookie.

According to the Sporting News, up until September, 17% of all flagrant fouls in the WNBA had been committed on Clark (5 in 30). The Chicago Sky's Chennedy Carter and Angel Reese committed the worst fouls.

Carter infamously body-checked Clark to the floor in an off-the-ball incident, and Reese took a swing at Clark as she attacked the rim for a layup, slamming to the ground.

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The Fever guard has been subject to numerous unsportsmanlike plays that haven't been punished this season. New York's Brianna Stewart set a screen that burst her ear drum, and Seattle's Ezi Magbegor hit her on the head in a blocked shot.

The constant targeting of Clark has taken its toll on the Fever guard, who, throughout the season, has been a pain for the WNBA officials in terms of lashing out and constantly moaning.

Clark was one technical foul away from missing the final regular season game of the season after picking up her sixth technical foul of the season against the Las Vegas Aces for slapping the stanchion.

According to Fox News, Clark has hit the stanchion of the basket multiple times in frustration and the padding on the base of the basket in anger. A referee told her it was "disrespectful to the game of basketball."

The final low point of Caitlin Clark's season was not being selected for the Team USA Olympic squad in Paris, despite many believing her addition would bring more attention to the women's game in France.

After finishing her rookie season, how would you assess Caitlin Clark's opening year in the WNBA? Let us know!

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