Chicago Sky Coach Says Caitlin Clark Made Her “CRAZY” After Hearing It! UNBELIEVABLE!
The Chicago Sky’s first encounter with Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever was the kind of WNBA debut that leaves coaches questioning everything they thought they knew. For Tyler Marsh, the new head coach of the Sky, it was a baptism by fire. Facing off against a Fever squad energized by the arrival of Clark, Marsh quickly realized that game plans built for ordinary opponents simply don’t work when you’re up against a generational talent. The headline after the game said it all: “Caitlin Clark Made Me Crazy”—and Marsh was the first to admit it.
From the opening tip, it was clear the Sky were in for a long night. Angel Reese, the Sky’s highly touted rookie, put in a solid performance, battling for rebounds and hustling on both ends of the floor. But the rest of the team struggled to keep up, especially as Clark orchestrated the Fever offense with a poise and creativity rarely seen in a rookie. The first half was a nightmare for Chicago. They trailed by 13 at halftime, unable to find any rhythm on offense. Shot selection was poor, with the Sky settling for far too many three-pointers—most of which clanged off the rim. In today’s WNBA, outside shooting is crucial, but Marsh’s squad took it to the extreme, neglecting the paint and failing to challenge Indiana’s interior defense.
It wasn’t just the offense that faltered. Defensively, the Sky were outmatched from the start. Marsh made the critical mistake of assigning Ariel Atkins—one of his best defenders—to Clark, but without a coherent scheme to back her up. Atkins managed to hit a three-pointer early, but as the game wore on, her offensive impact faded, and she struggled to contain Clark’s relentless attack. Clark shredded the Sky’s defense, especially when Marsh tried to hedge on pick-and-rolls. Camila Cardoso, Chicago’s anchor in the paint, found herself caught in no-man’s land on hard hedges, unable to recover in time as Clark found open teammates or knocked down pull-up jumpers.
The Fever exploited every mismatch. Aaliyah Boston, Indiana’s powerful forward, rolled to the basket almost at will, capitalizing on the defensive confusion to rack up easy points and assists from Clark. In the third quarter, Marsh tried to switch things up, assigning Courtney Vandersloot—a seasoned veteran—to guard Clark. But Clark immediately targeted the matchup, attacking Vandersloot off the dribble and creating scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. It was like watching a superstar in her prime, picking apart a defense that simply had no answers.
As the game slipped further out of reach, the Sky’s defensive rotations grew slower and their transition defense fell apart. Kelsey Mitchell, Clark’s backcourt partner, repeatedly raced down the court for uncontested layups, while Clark continued to hit deep, contested threes that left the Chicago bench shaking their heads. One sidestep three over Cardoso was particularly demoralizing—a shot so audacious that even opposing fans had to applaud. Marsh later admitted that there might not be a single player in the WNBA who can guard Clark effectively and still contribute on offense. Yet, despite this realization, Marsh stuck to his defensive script, giving Clark the same looks and watching helplessly as she found her rhythm and put the game out of reach.
After the final buzzer, Marsh was candid in his assessment. He praised Clark as an “incredible player” and acknowledged that he still had a lot to learn about coaching at the highest level. “She made me crazy,” Marsh confessed with a rueful smile. “We threw everything we had at her, and she just kept finding ways to beat us. That’s the mark of a truly special player.” Marsh’s humility was refreshing, and his willingness to admit mistakes bodes well for his future as a coach. But the loss also underscored a harsh reality: the WNBA is evolving rapidly, and coaches who can’t adapt will be left behind.
Clark’s performance sent shockwaves through the league. Social media lit up with highlights of her dazzling passes, fearless drives, and impossibly deep three-pointers. Pundits compared her to NBA stars, while fans debated whether anyone in the league could slow her down. For the Sky, the loss was a wake-up call, a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough in a league where preparation and adaptability are everything.
As the Fever celebrated their victory and Clark basked in the spotlight, Marsh and the Sky returned to the drawing board, determined to learn from their mistakes. The message was clear: to compete with the best, you have to be willing to change, to experiment, and to embrace the challenge of facing players who redefine what’s possible on the court. Caitlin Clark may have made Marsh “crazy” for one night, but her impact on the game—and on those who coach against her—is just beginning. The WNBA has a new standard-bearer, and the rest of the league will have to raise their game to keep up.
