"Everybody had their panties in a twist over Caitlin": Sue Bird lays bare crucial factor to stop Caitlin Clark, warns of Fever's playoff threat

Four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird lavished praise on Caitlin Clark and admitted she’d be wary of facing the Indiana Fever if she were still in the league, citing their fast pace as a major concern.

To counter the Fever, Bird suggested that the key to stopping Caitlin Clark is to pick her up full court constantly, as teams used to do before they grew weary of the effort.

In the “A Touch More” podcast, Bird noted that while teams initially applied full-court pressure on Clark, they likely became fatigued with the approach given the relentless nature of the season.

“The only thing that I find most interesting is that at the start of the season, everybody had their panties in a twist over Caitlin getting picked up full court and Caitlin being denied,” Bird said.

“And what I wasn’t surprised by is that as the WNBA season progresses, teams and players naturally get a bit worn out. The grind of playing nearly every day or every other day makes it hard to maintain the discipline needed to guard a player like that.”

Bird explained that Caitlin Clark’s ability to lead in assists and pose a threat from every part of the court makes the Fever a formidable playoff contender, though she anticipates teams will step up their defense as the postseason approaches.

“She’s no longer facing full-court pressure… She can make those quick passes ahead. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if teams start picking her up full court again as the playoffs near, and definitely expect to see it during the playoffs.”

Bird likened not applying full-court pressure on Clark to “letting Kevin Durant shoot pull-ups all day.”

Sue Bird on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever’s playoff potential

The Indiana Fever, led by Caitlin Clark, have been on a roll, winning 12 of their last 19 games. Although they’re a young team, Sue Bird highlighted their ability to play at a high pace, which could challenge slower teams in the playoffs.

“In my WNBA experience, I’ve learned that pace of play outweighs physicality. It can surpass size and experience because sometimes experience just means you’re a veteran, which often translates to older,” she said.

“And what I see in Caitlin and Kelsey Mitchell is a relentless drive that’s tough to handle. It can really throw off opponents.”

Sue Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in WNBA history. Over her 20-year career, she earned acclaim for her exceptional guard play, sharp court vision and clutch performances.

Her career accolades include four championships with the Seattle Storm in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020, and five Olympic gold medals from 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.