Caitlin Clark: Transition offense was key for Fever's strong start out of Olympics break

After a month away for the Olympics break, Caitlin Clark was back on the court for the Indiana Fever Friday night. Through one half, it didn’t look like she missed a beat.

Clark entered the halftime break with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-for-4 from three-point territory, to go with four rebounds and five assists. She helped lead the Fever to a commanding 54-37 lead over Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper and the Phoenix Mercury.

The key was simple. Indiana was getting out in transition, and Clark said that helped fuel the strong start to the matchup.

“Transition offense. That’s when we’re at our best,” Clark told ION’s Kelsie Kasper. “We got stops on the defensive end and then just pushed the ball in transition. I think that’s the key.

“Obviously, when they make some baskets there, we struggled to score in the half court and they went zone on us. Need to execute on the zone, for sure.”

The Fever also went to work on defense, holding the Mercury to 11-of-35 shooting through one half. That includes a 6-for-22 shooting clip from three-point territory, and Clark said the defense also deserves credit for Indiana’s halftime advantage.

Since the last game on July 17, Clark said the defense has improved. The difference is getting away from 1-on-1 matchups and, instead, helping each other out.

“A lot better,” Clark said of the defense. “I think we’re not trying to play 1-on-1 so much. We’re relying on our help and trusting our teammates, which is really important.”

The month off was Clark’s first extended time away from the basketball court since after her junior year at Iowa. She last played a game during the All-Star Game when she helped Team WNBA defeat Team USA prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics. It looked like it paid off as she came out of the gate quickly against the Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday night.

In fact, it could be just a glimpse of what Clark looks like after some rest. ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo said that’s one of the WNBA’s big storylines for the second half, as well.

“Well, I think we’re going to finally have a chance to see what a rested Caitlin Clark looks like as a pro. You think about her schedule over the course of the past couple of months – plays for a national championship. A week later gets drafted. A week after that she’s playing in a training camp,” Lobo said. “This is for an Indiana team that had a historically tough travel schedule to start the season. So I’m really eager to see what a rested Caitlin Clark looks like.”