Caitlin Clark may not be the face of basketball as a whole, but she makes a compelling case for being the face of the WNBA at 22 years old. The Indiana Fever came into the league with star power, unlike any player the WNBA has ever dealt with.

She was a superstar on all levels in the NCAA, holding the All-Time scoring record for both men’s and women’s basketball.

Despite her accolades and success in bringing viewership to women’s basketball, Clark has dealt with scrutiny from her peers. She’s been involved in physical incidents with stars like Breanna Stewart, DiJonai Carrington, and Chennedy Carter.

These veterans in the league are clearly trying to send her a message, and as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr, explained it’s normal for a rookie to be treated as such.

Kerr compared Clark’s situation to Stephen Curry’s when he was a young player in the league and even said that this would help Clark move forward in her career.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives the lane against the Seattle Storm on Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

“I think it’s kind of a right of passage for young players, whether it’s the WNBA or the NBA. The other players are going to test you… And actually, Caitlin reminds me a lot of Steph Curry.

A lot of people may not remember this, but in Steph’s first couple of years, he was not a superstar. He was not who he is now.

He had to get stronger, he had to understand people were coming after him. That’s what is happening with Caitlin right now,” said Kerr via Stephenie Ruhle on MSNBC.

Clark hasn’t exceeded expectations in her rookie season since she had so much pressure, with fans expecting her to wreak havoc on every team. While she’s seen her fair share of struggles, the rookie is leading Indiana with 16.3 points, 6.0 assists, and 1.5 steals through their 3-10 record.

Kerr putting Clark in the same conversation with Curry shows extreme respect. The undersized guard wound up winning multiple MVPs and NBA titles, so the hard hits and physicality seemed to work for Curry.