Basketball Legend Lisa Leslie Praises Caitlin Clark, Effect She's Had On Wnba

WNBA fable Lisa Leslie praised Caitlin Clark’s effect connected nan convention arsenic nan sharpshooter readies for her 2nd play pinch nan Indiana Fever.

The erstwhile Los Angeles Sparks superstar talked to Sports Illustrated astir Clark and nan chances of nan Fever winning nan WNBA title acknowledgment to a caller caput coach and seasoned pieces nan statement added successful nan offseason.

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Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark, #22, questions an charismatic connected Sunday, May 4, 2025 during a preseason crippled betwixt nan Indiana Fever and nan Brazil nationalist squad astatine Carver-Hawkeye Arena successful Iowa City. (IMAGN)

"Let maine conscionable say, Caitlin Clark has had an astonishing effect connected nan WNBA," Leslie told nan outlet. "Her expertise to travel retired and play, particularly aft her assemblage season. And past to travel into nan WNBA and conscionable really person nan effect that she did, it was really outstanding. I was truthful proud of Caitlin."

Leslie said that, connected paper, the Fever’s roster "looks amazing." Indiana added Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner to nan roster and re-hired Stephanie White arsenic their caller caput coach.

The Basketball Hall of Famer said pinch nan buildup of nan roster and nan heightened expectations, location besides comes added pressure.

"So erstwhile you talk astir Caitlin successful her sophomore year, she's much seasoned, she has had clip to rest. She's had clip to really regroup and spot precisely wherever she wants to go," Leslie said. "Obviously, (the Fever) person a ton of caller players, a caller coach. And that besides builds a batch of pressure. It is truthful difficult to win. It's not easy to triumph nan first twelvemonth that you get a caller coach, caller teammates, and you're trying to build this chemistry. I don't want to put excessively overmuch pressure. I deliberation nan Indiana Fever, arsenic acold arsenic connected paper, looks amazing. Now they've sewage to put it each together.

CAITLIN CLARK, FEVER DEMOLISH TEAM BRAZIL IN WNBA PRESEASON GAME

Lisa Leslie, erstwhile American hoops player, attends nan Women's Gold Medal crippled betwixt Team France and Team USA connected time sixteen of nan Olympic Games Paris 2024 astatine Bercy Arena connected Aug. 11, 2024 successful Paris. (Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)

"And they tin possibly. I'm not saying they can't. The All-Star Game is location successful Indiana. Everything is laid out. Caitlin has had clip to really process what nan WNBA looks like, what it feels like. And it's going to beryllium exciting, truthful I'm judge fans will tune in. Everything's already sold out. And immoderate teams, erstwhile Caitlin comes to town, they've already had to get into larger arenas. So each of those things astir nan Caitlin Clark effect are true."

Clark did not make nan U.S. women’s nationalist hoops squad for nan 2024 Paris Olympics. However, it appeared to beryllium a blessing successful disguise arsenic she appeared to beryllium much successful sync pinch her Fever teammates aft nan Olympics break than she was astatine nan opening of nan regular season.

Indiana made nan playoffs successful 2024 for nan first clip since 2016, erstwhile White was still nan caput coach. The Fever vanished 20-20 successful 2024 and person brought backmost cardinal players for illustration Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard and Lexie Hull.

Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark, left, gives autographs aft an accumulation women's hoops crippled against Brazil connected Sunday, May 4, 2025 successful Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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The Fever’s 2025 play originates connected May 17 against nan Chicago Sky.

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