Jason Whitlock has heaped praise on Caitlin Clark for reducing her number of turnovers on court – just two days after claiming she was ‘hurting’ the Indiana Fever.
Clark put up 19 points, seven rebounds, as many assists and two steals as the Fever got past the Atlanta Dream on Monday night, while also recording just two turnovers.
The 22-year-old had been averaging 5.6 turnovers per game so far in her WNBA rookie season, a statistic Whitlock was highly critical of after she added another seven to her record at the weekend.
‘They gotta quit making excuses for Caitlin Clark’s turnovers,’ the conservative sports columnist wrote on X after Indiana’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx. ‘It’s sloppy and hurting her team.’
Yet after her improved showing against Atlanta, Whitlock took to the platform again to credit Clark for cutting down her turnovers – despite saying she had a ‘below average’ first half.
Jason Whitlock (left) has heaped praise on Caitlin Clark (right) for reducing her number of turnovers on court
He wrote at the halftime break: ‘Caitlin Clark with a below average first half BUT only a single turnover. Fever up 14.
‘Clark cutting down her careless turnovers is the key to the Fever playing at a high level. Can’t have all the empty possessions.’
Whitlock wasn’t alone in pointing out Clark’s poor turnover record in recent weeks, with sports analyst Skip Bayless also highlighting her worrying trait last weekend.
However, Bayless stressed that the former Iowa college sensation is making up for her high turnovers in other areas.
‘As I pointed out on this week’s “Skip Bayless Show,” Caitlin has already shattered the WNBA single-season record for turnovers WITH 12 GAMES LEFT,’ he posted to X Saturday night.
Just two days after claiming she was ‘hurting’ the Indiana Fever, Whitlock took to X to credit Clark for improving her turnover rate
The 22-year-old helped Indiana record an 84-79 victory over the Atlanta Dream
‘But I forgive many of them bc they’re so close to being spectacular passes. She also leads the league in assists … and WOW passes.’
In Monday’s win over Atlanta, Clark sparked injury fears when she went down injured after rolling her ankle and screamed in pain.
Nevertheless, she continued with the game and later played down her injury, which she admitted was just an ankle sprain.