Caitlin Clark: WNBA Players 'Get Away with Things' on Defense; Talks Physical Play

Caitlin Clark is always going to be a focal point for opposing defenses in the WNBA, and with that comes additional physicality that defenders maybe couldn't get away with at the collegiate level.

"I think everybody is physical with me, they get away with things that probably other people don't get away with," the Indiana Fever rookie said, per Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star. "It's tough, but that's just the fact of the matter. This is a very physical game, and you're going to get pressure, this is professional basketball. It is what it is, honestly."

Clark may be a rookie, but she is far from an ordinary first-year player who needs plenty of time to adjust to the professional ranks.

Rather, she was the No. 1 overall pick following a record-setting college career. The transition to the WNBA didn't take away her ability to pull up from well beyond the three-point line, which stretches the defense and tilts the floor in her team's favor.

Opposing guards have consistently picked her up full court even when the rest of the team isn't pressing in an effort to both get the ball out of her hands and take away her deep three-point shot. Los Angeles Sparks guard Aari McDonald even accidentally started guarding Clark in between free throws during Tuesday's game.

To the Iowa product's credit, she appears to be adjusting to the physical approach.

She dropped a career-best 30 points to go with six assists, three steals and three blocks during Tuesday's 88-82 loss to the Sparks. That performance came shortly after she just missed a triple-double during Friday's win over that same Los Angeles team with 11 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

Clark hit two deep three-pointers late in the win over the Sparks to help cement what has been Indiana's only victory of the young season.

While turnovers have been an issue at 5.5 per game, she is already 13th in the league in scoring (17.3) and fourth in assists (6.3) per game. That production only figures to improve with additional experience, which will be trouble for the rest of the WNBA.

Even if opponents do take a physical approach with her.