Erica Wheeler Used One Word to Describe WNBA’s Treatment of Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will take on the Washington Mystics on Wednesday for the third time in the 2024 WNBA season. The Fever won the first two games against the Mystics by a total of nine points.

One day before the game, Fever veteran Erica Wheeler spoke to reporters at Indiana’s media availability. She discussed the way opponents have guarded Clark and used one word to describe the WNBA’s treatment of the former Iowa Hawkeyes star: “Unique.”

“Nobody plays me how they play her. It’s a unique situation because, literally, they trap her at halfcourt. I’ve never had that,” Wheeler said.

It’s one thing for players to defend someone who has made a name for themselves in the WNBA, but giving Clark, a rookie, this sort of treatment is rare.

Clark is off to a tremendous start to her professional career. She is averaging 16.1 points, 6 rebounds and 7.4 assists through 22 games. She has also been named a WNBA All-Star and recorded the first triple-double by a rookie in league history. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft has lived up to the hype.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark looks to break free from Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale as Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler (17) sets a screen during their preseason game on May 3 in Arlington, Texas.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Wheeler played in college for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. She went undrafted in 2013 before finding her way onto a WNBA team in 2015. She had a four-year stint with the Fever from 2016 to ’19.

During that time, Wheeler became the first undrafted rookie ever to make a WNBA All-Star team. In 2023, she returned to Indiana for her second run with the team.