Caitlin Clark explains why she ‘idolizes’ Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry

SAN FRANCISCO – Caitlin Clark is the most lethal sniper in the WNBA, capable of pulling up from 30 feet with ease and adept at draining the most improbable shots. 

It is an elite shooting repertoire that reminds many of Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry. 

Before the Fever’s game against former Iowa teammate Kate Martin and the Valkyries at Chase Center on Thursday night, the Fever’s second-year megastar did not hold back when talking about the man who lights up the arena’s baskets during the NBA season. 

“I grew up watching Steph, and to me, he’s one of the greatest basketball players of all time,” Clark said. “I think he’s really changed the way basketball is being played.”

Clark paid homage to her favorite player in pregame warmups, when she drained 29 of 30 triples in front of adoring fans.

Clark is averaging 21.3 points and 8.7 assists per game while shooting 40% from 3-point distance on a diet of consistently difficult stepbacks and fadeaways. 

The Iowa native credited Curry’s long-range excellence as one of the reasons she – and now countless kids across America – have the green light to let it rip from behind the line early in the shot clock.  

“Maybe at times, for me and him both, kids shouldn’t always just go and chuck up a bunch of threes, but that’s what makes the game so exciting, and what he’s been able to do throughout his career,” Clark said. “He’s really changed basketball … He’s somebody I certainly idolize.”

Clark has more than just respect for the five-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leader in 3-point makes. 

She said she tries to catch as many Warriors games as she can, and not just because she enjoys watching Curry play. 

“There’s so much I can learn from him,” said Clark, whose Fever are 6-5. 

And what’s the biggest lesson she’s taken from studying Curry? 

“Something I remember from the first time I actually watched him play in person, is like how strong he is physically,” Clark said. “That also showed me going into year two, how much time I really needed to put into the weight room to be able to play at this level of physicality and also not get tired through the course of the game.”

Clark saw Curry as someone she could model even more than just her shooting game after, and the Fever coaches have agreed 

“Our coaching staff has done a good job of putting me in positions where I’m off the ball a little bit more, like you’ll see that with Steph too,” Clark said. “A lot of times, he won’t bring the ball up. A lot of times he’ll be off the ball, getting screens, things like that. But also, Steph’s probably one of the best screeners in the NBA.”