"How Is Caitlin Clark Performing in Her First Half of the WNBA Season?"

Caitlin Clark displayed some serious RAF, or Resting Annoyed Face, during the Fever's 89-77 loss to the Storm on Thursday. There appeared to be few instances when the rookie experienced joy. It's understandable, considering her team's current standing in eighth place in the WNBA standings after suffering its second consecutive loss. Indiana (7-12) has also failed to defeat a team with a record better than .400 this season, consistently being dominated by the league's top teams. Additionally, her teammates' struggle to make open shots within 5 feet of the basket was a recurring issue on Thursday. However, what may be more frustrating is her inability to take control of a game when her team needs her to.

Clark's time at Iowa was marked by her signature trait, as she led the team to consecutive national championship games and set the all-time scoring record in college basketball. Whenever the Hawkeyes needed a crucial basket or a flawless setup, Caitlin was the one they relied on. However, the Fever has not reached that level yet.

It didn’t look like you were having a lot of fun out there, a reporter said to Clark. 

“We’re competitors and we want to win, and it didn’t really feel great out there, even when we cut it to nine,” said Clark, who finished with 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds. “We want to win more than anybody. This is our job. … We’re trying to give it our all so we’re not going to be out there smiling when we’re down by 15.”

The perfect scenario for a Storm supporter attending a Clark game, where yet another full house gathered at Climate Pledge Arena, likely involves a Seattle victory coupled with a standout performance reminiscent of Caitlin's college days. At one point on Thursday, it appeared as if the spectators were on track to witness exactly that.

The Storm took an early lead and entered halftime with a 14-point advantage, while Clark scored 12 points in the first half and made three three-pointers. Some of those shots were from beyond 5 feet behind the arc. Fans got to witness the best version of Clark during that time. However, she failed to score another field goal for the remainder of the game. The Storm's strategy in the second half seemed to focus on limiting Clark's opportunities for long-range shots, applying double teams when she drove, and forcing her teammates to step up. Given that Clark is surrounded by a less effective supporting cast compared to the Storm, her team struggled to compete at the same level.

Missed layups were frequent, especially from Aliyah Boston, last year's No. 1 overall pick. However, Caitlin couldn't blame her teammates in this game, even if she were inclined to do so. Clark is facing certain limitations as she approaches the midpoint of her first WNBA season. While she contributed to Indiana's improvement from 1-8 to 7-10 before the recent losses, she is not exactly dominating. Turnovers remain a concern, with her recording a game-high six on Thursday. Her average of 5.6 turnovers per game is 1.7 more than any other player in the league, which somewhat offsets her 6.6 assists, ranking third in the league. Many of these turnovers are preventable and can pose an offensive challenge despite her averages of 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds. Clark didn't try to force the issue, as evidenced by the lack of errant second-half shots on Thursday, although this was mainly due to her taking only two shots in the second half.

Storm coach Noelle Quinn commended Caitlin’s ability to pass the ball early while blitzing her on ball screens, but also noted that taking the ball out of her hands made her less assertive down the stretch. Clark knows that. 

“I could definitely be a little bit more aggressive to the basket,” Clark said.

But then she added: “When you get blitzed you’re just going to have to give the ball up. That’s just how it rolls.” 

There was just one team out there that’s really rollin’, and that’s the Storm, who have won 10 of their past 13 and just got 34 points from Jewell Loyd. The Clark-led Fever have yet to prove they can compete with the league’s best.

That explains that resting look on Caitlin’s face. The good news for the league? She’s not gonna rest till she figures it out.