WNBA Legend Candace Parker Praises Caitlin Clark, Reveals Advice for Fever Rookie

Julia StumbaughJuly 21, 2024

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Women’s basketball legend Candace Parker says she has “respect” for the attention Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is bringing to the WNBA.

“In that situation with all of the attention and the eyeballs and the greatness that she’s brought to sport, I respect what you’re doing and what you’re able to do,” Parker said during a Q&A with Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. “So, I don’t think I gave her any words of advice. I think if I did, it was right before the NCAA tournament. I was just like, ‘Enjoy it. It goes so fast. The days are long, but the years are short.’

“And that’s really how it is where you look up and you’re just trying to grind and get to where you go. And then you look up and you’re 10 years in and you’re 15 years in, you’re 16 years in. So, I just said, ‘Enjoy it. This is a game. This is a game of basketball that we all picked up because we loved it. So, you’ve got to play that.'”

Parker went on to praise Clark’s performance during the Fever’s Wednesday loss to the Dallas Wings.

Clark racked up 24 points on 10-for-19 shooting from the field while breaking the all-time WNBA single-game assists record 19.

Indiana Fever @IndianaFeverWNBA RECORD ⭐️

Caitlin Clark has broken the record for most assists in a single game with 19. pic.twitter.com/pKbRUSBwIg

“The mental element of basketball is what’s the hardest to master,” Parker told Spears. “I’m sure a lot of you caught her game last night. I mean, she’s adjusting really well. And I think after the Olympic break with a little bit of rest, the young core that Indiana has, it’s great.

“It’s hard to have the bullseye on your back, not just from the standpoint of everybody looking at you, but also as a teammate trying; it is a team sport, so you’re the one that always constantly has to remind people like, ‘Hey Aliyah [Boston], set that screen.’ It’s difficult and people have different feelings about it. So, it’s a hard weight, hard burden to carry, but she’s doing a great job.”

Heading into the All-Star weekend, Clark is averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 5.6 turnovers through 26 games for the Fever. She and Parker are the only WNBA rookies to have recorded multiple games with at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Parker, who announced her retirement from the WNBA in April after 16 seasons and three titles, remains the only player in WNBA history to earn simultaneous Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. Clark will be hard-pressed to match that accomplishment in a league featuring stars like A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu, but her bid to lead the WNBA in assists as a rookie is likely to keep her name in the conversation.