Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo explain why Caitlin Clark’s game will translate to WNBA ‘right away’

With just over four days to go until the 2024 WNBA Draft, there isn’t much doubt about who the Indiana Fever will select at No. 1. The anticipation is already building, with 36 of the Fever’s 40 games set to be broadcast on TV and ticket prices surging for their games.

That excitement comes before Caitlin Clark even puts on the jersey. The former Iowa star set record after record this past season to become the consensus top pick ahead of Monday night’s draft. She’s known for her lethal scoring ability, which is how she was able to pass Kelsey Plum, Lynette Woodard and Pete Maravich en route to the Division I all-time scoring record.

But there’s another part of her game that some think gets overlooked – and is why ESPN’s Andraya Carter thinks Clark won’t have much trouble adjusting to the professional game.

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“I think Caitlin’s game translates immediately, just in terms of her range, her ability to hit shots and her vision,” Carter said Thursday on a Zoom call with reporters ahead of the WNBA Draft. “People talk about Caitlin’s scoring, but her passing is next-level. Like, when we say next-level, she’s been a pro passer, as well, in her game.

“So when you think about her playing alongside Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa [Smith], when you think about her playing alongside Kelsey Mitchell. Her ability to find her teammates and set them up for success, I think, will immediately translate because people will defend her like she’s a scorer. … When you watch Caitlin play in college, she makes the right decisions – you say play the right way. She makes the right reads, she gets the ball where it’s supposed to go. So I think that translates.”

In addition to her long list of scoring records, Clark led the nation in assists three times and also ranks third on the NCAA’s all-time assists list with 1,144 to her name. There were times during the Final Four and national championship she could’ve had even more, too.

As she gets ready to play alongside a three-point shooter of Mitchell’s caliber and the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year in Boston, Rebecca Lobo said she could have plenty of success with her passing in the W.

“I’m really excited to see Caitlin surrounded by the players that are already on the Indiana team because her vision is next-level and I’m eager to see players around her who can consistently see what she sees and finish what she delivers to them,” Lobo said. “I think Caitlin kind of had the perfect complement of players around her at the college level where she could do everything to help them maximize their skillsets. Kelsey Mitchell is an excellent catch-and-shoot when it comes to three-point shots, I’m eager to see Caitlin set her up. I’m eager to see her in a pick-and-roll with Aliyah Boston, I’m eager to see NaLyssa Smith getting rim-runs and getting the ball delivered to her like she never has before.

“There will be challenges, but at the same time, the talent around her is also going to be better. So I’m excited to see what that looks like, in particular, on the offensive end of the floor.”

Andraya Carter: ‘The speed of the game’ could be a challenge for Caitlin Clark

As is the case with almost any rookie in any sport, there’s sure to be a learning curve for Caitlin Clark at the next level. To Andraya Carter, that comes from a few aspects – most notably the physical differences.

“Challenge-wise, I think the physicality of going against grown women is going to be a tough,” Carter said. “The hits are going to be a little bit harder, the checks are going to be harder, the defense is gonna be more physical and the players will be faster. Everybody that goes from college to the next level talks about the speed of the game. Everything’s gonna be faster, everything’s gonna be tougher. So that, and then defending.”

South Carolina put together a strong game plan with its defensive adjustment against Clark in the national championship. It called for Raven Johnson to pick her up at three-quarters court and stay with her to the three-point line and beyond, which took away her ability to get to the basket.

Carter said while Clark needs to be ready for the tougher defense, she still looks ready to take on the WNBA.

“I think any star that comes into the game, teams want to challenge them defensively,” Carter said. “So I think when I imagine different guards going against Caitlin, they’re gonna want to try and take her off the bounce. They’re gonna want to try and challenge her defense.

“So defense and physicality, I think in general, could be where she’s challenged. But I think her game translates right away.”