In July this year, The Athletic embarked on a journey to uncover a crucial truth: “Who will be the face of the WNBA in five years?” With a voter pool of nearly 40 players from 13 teams, excluding the 30 rookies this year, the answer was expected, but still a surprise. Despite Paige Bueckers’ emergence and JuJu Watkins’ steady move toward potential WNBA fame, an overwhelming 53.8% respondents still answered Caitlin Clark. So while critics keep undermining the Indiana Fever star’s impact, it’s clear there’s no running away from the truth. A veteran also agreed, albeit with a twist.

On the latest episode of A Touch More podcast aired August 20, 2X WNBA champion and former Seattle Storm player Lauren Jackson joined Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe. At one point, Rapinoe inevitably asked Jackson, “Is there a player today that you look at and think, ‘Oh, I wish I could play with her’.” Taking a long, thoughtful pause before answering, the retired veteran answered, “I love Caitlin Clark. I’ve said that before, but I do love her.” However, in the next instant, she also explained that Clark would still fall behind some big names.

“But it was taken out of context,” Jackson said of her conversation with ESPN in June, when she heavily praised Clark, and continued, “I’ve always said that Sue is the one that, like, you are the thing,” Jackson admitted. “You are the best point guard I’ve ever played with, but you are completely different player to her. And also too, she’s got a lot of development and growth to come. But I feel like you are the consummate professional. I think the way that you are able to bring a team together and make a team hum. Like, you’re the player that I actually got to play with and I would wish I could play with.” The 3X WNBA MVP, then, retracted on the love she previously presented to the 2024 ROTY.

“So, I will say that I love watching her. I’m not sure I would have loved playing with her though,“ Jackson clarified. “Like I’m not sure because I’d be like, ‘Pass me the ball. I’m open. Give me the ball. Bring it’. But I don’t know. I feel like she’d take a three instead of passing it to me and I’d be like, ‘No, mate. This isn’t going to work’,” she concluded. And Jackson’s not totally wrong. Even as an Iowa Hawkeyes player, Clark was mostly known as a three-pointer beast. During the Hawkeyes’ clash vs Michigan in February last year, the player had downed a massive 35-foot shot, thereby breaking the women’s all-time NCAA scoring record, ahead of Kelsey Plum.

Then earlier this year, in a clash against the New York Liberty, she had turned heads once again with a 36-foot three-pointer. No wonder even the likes of Stephen Curry are left saying, “When she crosses half-court, she’s in her range.” But looks like fans might have to wait a bit till they get to see that same performance once again…

Caitlin Clark suffers another adversity before the playoffs

The Indiana Fever were suffering from a rough night against the extremely physical team in the Connecticut Sun. Already down in the first quarter, the roster watched helplessly as Sophie Cunningham suffered a right knee injury in the second quarter during the 21-point comeback win. She was assisted to the locker room in the early minutes of the second quarter, with the team later announcing that Cunningham would miss the rest of the 2025 season, including the playoffs. Unfortunately, soon after, another shocking news jolted the roster.

Already on the sidelines, tending to a right groin injury, fans hoped to watch Caitlin Clark return to the active roster. But unfortunately, Fever insider Scott Agness had some grave news for fans and reporters alike. He shared that the point guard suffered another injury. It was apparently a mild bone bruise on her left ankle during a workout session in Phoenix.

With Clark, Cunningham, Colson, and McDonald on the bench, can the Indiana Fever rely on newcomers to lead the way? What do you think?