Erica Wheeler speaks on ‘kid’ Caitlin Clark’s personality and locker room unity: “Outside world was trying to get inside this building”

Erica Wheeler speaks on ‘kid’ Caitlin Clark’s personality and locker room unity. (Photo: IMAGN)

Indiana Fever veteran guard Erica Wheeler opened up about Caitlin Clark’s personality and how it helped unite the locker room this season. Wheeler pointed out how people outside the Fever fanbase tried to divide them but the coaching staff ensured they stayed loose and focused.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday after their final practice of the regular season, Wheeler was asked about the Fever just having fun on and off the court. Indiana is on its way to the 2024 WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2016.

“All we do is have fun. With Caitlin Clark, who never takes anything serious, I tell people all the time, ‘She’s really a kid at heart.’ And also Christie (Sides) and the coaching staff are not hard on us. They allow us to have fun but there are moments where we need to be serious and we are serious,” Wheeler said.

The 33-year-old guard added:

“Majority of the time we’re having fun. You got to understand, the outside world was really trying to get inside this building, we just didn’t let it. Having fun is a great way to kinda keep that out.”

The Indiana Fever had a rough start to the season and there were some clear chemistry issues. Even coach Christie Sides was in hot water for handling Caitlin Clark’s role on the court and not surrounding her with the best possible lineup.

Fast forward to two months later and the Fever started playing consistently. They began winning games and were one of the better teams before the All-Star Weekend. The WNBA then entered the Olympic break and the Fever players had time to rest and to get to know each other.

It worked wonders since Indiana has been one of the best teams in the league after the break. They locked the No. 6 seed for the postseason, possibly against the Connecticut Sun or Las Vegas Aces.

Former WNBA player sends warning about Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark is on her way to winning the 2024 Rookie of the Year after a record-breaking first season in the WNBA. Clark will also make her playoff debut with the Indiana Fever as the sixth seed.

However, former WNBA player Val Whiting warned the league that Clark has not fully adjusted to the pros.

“Here’s my humble opinion: I think that Caitlin Clark is still adjusting to the WNBA. She has not yet fully adjusted to the league and look how she’s performing. And that, my friends, is the scary part,” Whiting tweeted.

Clark and the Fever will start the 2024 WNBA playoffs on the road either in Connecticut or in Las Vegas. The postseason is scheduled to begin on Sept. 22.

“Here’s my humble opinion: I think that Caitlin Clark is still adjusting to the WNBA. She has not yet fully adjusted to the league and look how she’s performing. And that, my friends, is the scary part,” Whiting tweeted.

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Edited by Chaitanya Prakash