The idea that Caitlin Clark would spend less time on the ball was something many did not think would work as the WNBA season edged closer a few days ago. Fever head coach Stephanie White had to explain the reasoning behind it to help fans understand why the approach could be tactically beneficial, while also helping manage Clark physically over the course of the season. Clark herself also had to answer multiple questions about the strategy on several occasions, leading up to the campaign.

Well, Coach Stephanie White did implement that approach in the Fever’s season opener against the Dallas Wings. And while Indiana might have lost the game, the stats and analysis afterward suggested that having Clark operate off the ball can actually work. Specifically, according to data and analysis shared on X by WBFFData, the Indiana Fever offense did not actually get worse when Caitlin Clark played off the ball.

As also shown in the analysis, Caitlin Clark finished the game with 20 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. She shot 7-for-17 from the field and also turned the ball over five times. That alone was already a pretty strong offensive game statistically.

As shown in the analysis, Clark was actively handling the ball 66% of the time in the tracked half-court possessions, while she was off the ball 34% of the time. While Clark was on the ball, the team averaged 1.08 points per possession. On the other hand, when she played off the ball, the Fever scored 1.20 points per possession.

As shown in the data, Clark being off the ball actually resulted in better offensive efficiency for the Indiana Fever. And so, the narrative that ‘off-ball Clark’ would hurt the Indiana Fever offense may not fully hold up. However, the small sample size may not yet be enough to draw any major long-term conclusions.

As things stand now, there is some indication that Stephanie White’s experiment could turn out to help the Fever offensively. But even beyond the numbers themselves, Clark had also pointed out earlier that having other players handle the ball more helps Indiana shift the dynamics of its offense. As she explained, of course, she always wants to have the ball. But the offense can become a little too predictable if it keeps repeating the same actions.

There is also the intention of keeping Caitlin Clark fit throughout the season by slightly reducing her workload. Last season, due to injury, she played in only 13 games. And in fact, there have already been a couple of injury scares this season, including one during the preseason.

Even in that opening game against the Wings, Clark left the court twice to go to the locker room. However, concerns around that were later dismissed, with it explained that she was simply getting her “back adjusted.”

She will be on the court against the Los Angeles Sparks in the Fever’s next game on Wednesday. And Indiana will be hoping to pick up its first win of the season. Perhaps we could see even more of Caitlin Clark operating off the ball, especially as the strategy already appears to be showing some positive signs.

Stephanie White Says Caitlin Clark’s Back Adjustment Was Routine Maintenance Claims Other Players Receive It Too

Caitlin Clark heading back to the locker room during the Fever’s game against the Dallas Wings definitely sparked concerns among fans. Even though they revealed there was no injury and that she only went to get adjustments during the game, there is still concern about the underlying cause. However, Fever head coach Stephanie White has now provided further clarification on the situation.

Speaking ahead of the team’s practice on Monday, White described the adjustments as simply regular maintenance. When asked whether the adjustments were injury-related or just basic maintenance, she said, “No, it’s basic maintenance… I know everybody’s focused on Caitlin Clark, but our other players are going back to get regular maintenance, too.”

In fact, White went on to reveal that such adjustments are likely to become more regular moving forward. In fact, she even joked that she wished she could get one too. As she said, “it’s just going to be something that’s going to consistently see. I wish I could go get an adjustment at that time.”

Last season’s injury situation has left many fans worried. The Indiana Fever themselves also appear careful about avoiding a repeat of last year. Hopefully, all the measures they have now put in place and are implementing will be effective enough to keep Caitlin Clark fit throughout the season.