Stardom in the WNBA has never come without a cost, but few players have felt that price as sharply as the league's biggest draw right now. The surrounding conversation has quietly shifted from admiration to genuine worry.

Speaking on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons addressed how the spotlight has affected Caitlin Clark.

"I think it's sapped some of the joy for her. I don't think she ever wanted any of this. I think she just wants to play basketball and shoot threes. She seems miserable," Simmons said.

Simmons made these remarks during a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast. He isn't reacting to anything. Clark has gone from the league's most celebrated rookie to a target of physical play and public debate within two seasons, a shift that would wear down most athletes regardless of talent.

The physical assault became a national news story in recent times. The foul committed by Phoenix player Alyssa Thomas became the cause for controversy when it made contact with Clark's throat, prompting even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to comment

The scrutiny hasn't slowed her production, though. Clark is averaging 20.1 points, 7.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 41.7 percent from the field, numbers that have the Indiana Fever sitting atop the Eastern Conference at 14-9.

She's also on pace to remain one of the league's most efficient distributors, having already become the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 600 career assists in just 72 games.

While she may face exhaustion and loud surroundings, Clark is set to be a star at the WNBA All-Star Game taking place on July 25th as a captain for Team Weatherspoon along with A'ja Wilson.

The situation has moved past simply being noise. Clark's game statistics are a direct reflection of what Simmons has been saying.

Caitlin Clark Still Isn't Right Since Returning From Injury

Clark endured a difficult Wednesday. She almost incurred a technical foul for an argument with an official during the first half. She finished with just 13 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 turnovers as Indiana fell 88-75 to Golden State.

Her shooting told the real story. Clark finished 4 of 14 shooting and 1 of 8 from beyond the arc, and Indiana's 75 points were a season low for them.

Clark played in her third game after sitting out two due to a back injury she has been battling. The Fever have been limiting her minutes, and she only played 25 Wednesday night compared to her career average of 33.1 minutes per game.

The dip shows up across her last few outings too. She scored only nine points against the Sparks and 12 against the Aces in limited action. With the loss, Indiana dropped to 14-10, now tied with Atlanta atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Do you think Caitlin Clark needs more rest, or will she round back into form soon? Comment down and let us know.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta