Caitlin Clark Dropped 14 Dimes — But Her Two Biggest Flaws Are Getting Harder to Ignore

Caitlin Clark can still run an offense like few others in the WNBA. On Tuesday night, she reminded everyone why she was a first-team All-WNBA selection last season, putting up 21 points and a season-high 14 assists as the Indiana Fever crushed the Toronto Tempo 113-91. But for those keeping a close eye on her development, two troubling patterns keep showing up — and they could determine whether she ever wins an MVP trophy.

Clark shot just 1-of-8 from three-point range and committed six turnovers. Those numbers, while camouflaged by an explosive team performance, highlight the areas where she still needs to grow. The Fever shot 52 percent from the field and 43 percent from deep as a team, so the margin for error was wide against Toronto. That won’t always be the case.

Still, Fever head coach Stephanie White sees progress where it matters most: Clark’s burst and pace.

“She did a great job of finding her teammates,” White told reporters after the game, via The Athletic’s James Boyd. “Again, her pace, you can tell she’s got her burst back. She does a good job of forcing the action in the ball screen and really creates 2-on-1 opportunities.”

That’s the encouraging side. Clark only played 13 games in 2025 after an injury cut her season short, so some rust was expected in 2026. While her three-point shooting has been inconsistent — she’s hitting just over 32 percent from deep this season — her playmaking has been elite. Tuesday’s assist total was a season high and marked the latest example of her controlling the game without needing to score at an MVP rate.

Kelsey Mitchell poured in 27 points on 9-of-11 shooting, and Sophie Cunningham added 24 off the bench on 8-of-11. That kind of support makes life easier for any point guard, and Clark made sure to get them the ball in rhythm.

Still, the turnovers are a concern. Her six giveaways against Toronto marked the fifth time this season she’s had five or more in a game. For a player with her vision and handle, those mistakes often come from forcing passes or trying to do too much. It’s the kind of risk-reward trade-off that coaches can live with when the rewards look like 14 assists, but it’s also the sort of stat that separates good players from MVPs in a league full of elite guards.

The Fever improved to 9-5 with the win, sitting just behind the Atlanta Dream in the standings. Indiana will face Atlanta on Thursday, with Angel Reese and the Dream coming to town at 9-4. That game will offer another test of Clark’s ability to limit mistakes against a tough defensive team.

For now, White is focused on what Clark is doing well. The burst is back. The vision is elite. The wins are piling up. If the shooting and turnovers eventually catch up to the rest of her game, the MVP conversation will follow naturally.