Sue Bird Highlights What Sets Caitlin Clark Apart on the Court

WNBA legend Sue Bird recently shed light on what makes Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark an extraordinary basketball player.

During an appearance Friday on “Good Game with Sarah Spain,” by iHeartPodcasts, Bird emphasized Clark's remarkable ability to hit long-distance threes, comparing it to the impact of dunking in men's basketball.

"From a basketball standpoint, I think Caitlin in particular, you know, her long-distance threes. I always said this, we finally got the anecdote to dunking," Bird said.

Bird highlighted how Clark's shooting has helped change the narrative around women's basketball, which has often faced criticism for a lack of excitement compared to men's games.

"All we heard our entire existence was you guys are boring, you know, dunk. Oh, maybe you should lower the rims. It would be more exciting," Bird said. "And the thing about the long three is it is what it is. The distance is the distance. It goes in or it doesn't. It's the same for everybody."

Clark's ability to consistently make long-distance shots has captured the attention of many new fans, shifting perceptions and bringing a broader audience to women's basketball.

"In a sense, I think she snapped people out of this trance that was very negative towards women's basketball, and now she's brought this huge group," Bird said.

Clark, a standout rookie for the Indiana Fever, has been making waves with her performance this season. Her impressive stats and fearless playstyle have earned her comparisons to some of the greats in the sport. She is currently averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.2 points per page across 26 games (h/t ESPN), and recently broke the WNBA record for assists with 19 in the Fever’s 101-93 loss vs. the Dallas Wings on Wednesday.

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