A lot of sports media members still don\u2019t know how to talk about Caitlin Clark.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not a knock on Carolyn Peck, at least, not intentionally. But the former Purdue head coach drew some ire this week when she suggested the Indiana Fever might actually be better without Clark. Or at least, that\u2019s how plenty of people heard it. And that\u2019s because Peck said during a SportsCenter spot with Michael Eaves that the Fever were \u201cmore dangerous\u201d without Clark.<\/p>\n
The Fever improved to 4-4 without the Iowa Hawkeyes product, following an 81-54 drubbing of the Las Vegas Aces in the Commissioner\u2019s Cup Final. Clark has missed the past five games with a groin injury, including Saturday\u2019s matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, I think Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn\u2019t play, because she\u2019s a ball-dominant guard,\u201d Peck said earlier this week. \u201cThe ball\u2019s in her hands a lot, so you know what you need to try to take away. But when you look at Indiana now, they\u2019ve got so many weapons. And Kelsey Mitchell is playing out of her mind. Aliyah Boston, I talked to [Fever head coach] Stephanie White before the game. She said in Year 1, Aliyah Boston was back to the basket. Year 2, two-man game. Year 3, they\u2019re using her as a decision maker.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so, when you have a point guard like Kelsey Mitchell and Aari McDonald, making plays on the post and the perimeter, like Aliyah Boston, I\u2019m gonna tell you, Indiana, they\u2019re a threat. And specifically on the defensive end. Stephanie is so pleased with the intensity they\u2019re bringing defensively with their length, their switches. I mean, they wreaked havoc on their last two opponents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline Peck saying the @IndianaFever<\/a> are more dangerous WITHOUT Caitlin Clark. (I\u2019m keeping receipts now) pic.twitter.com\/Tv7ZZgXRYa<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ken Swift (@kenswift) July 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n In saying the Fever were \u201cmore dangerous\u201d without Clark, Perck was trying to make a point about how Indiana can\u00a0utilize its depth and versatility with a ball-dominant guard off the court. Naturally, it was taken by many as another slight at Clark<\/a> herself. So, like most people who venture into Caitlin Clark discourse these days, she was forced to clarify what she actually meant.<\/p>\n I did not say Caitlin Clark is not Valuable . She\u2019s a-great player. For those who only see Caitlin, I was complimenting the rest of the team. The Fever have several weapons. Yes, they lost last night. They have lost games w her. RESPECT to the WHOLE @IndianaFever<\/a> team.<\/p>\n \u2014 CAROLYN PECK (@CAROLYNPECK) July 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n As a coach, if you have ever prepared a scouting report? Scout the Fever w &w\/out Caitlin. What do you have to take away in both scenarios? They are different. One is not easier than the other, just different. There is a lot of talent on that team.<\/p>\n