Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark gave a solid account of her potential in the first half of the 2024 WNBA season.

However, one area she struggled with was turnovers. In an interview with Howard Megdal on the “Locked On Women’s Basketball” podcast, Fever coach Christie Sides was quizzed about the former Iowa superstar’s turnovers and how she could cut down on her mistakes.

Sides lavished praise on her superstar player, lauding the 22-year-old’s ability to generate open shots for teammates, thanks to her excellent court vision and precise passing.

She also said that Clark is still getting familiar with her teammates’ tendencies, and listed the lack of reps as the primary reason behind the rookie’s turnovers.

“It’s the reps with her new teammates,” Sides said. (12:40)

“It’s the understanding where Aliyah (Boston) is going to roll to or where Lyss (NaLyssa Smith) is going to pop to and also the scheming part of it, where the defense is coming from and making those reads.

She is making those reads now against the best players in the world,” she added.

Clark leads the league in turnovers this season with 5.6 per game, two more than Alyssa Thomas (3.6), who is ranked No. 2. Clark has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.47.

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Sides also reckoned that the suffocating defense played by opposition players on Clark was another reason behind turnovers.

“These are some of the best athletes that are putting pressure on her that she has never felt before. She is starting to figure that out.

That is where we are going to see improvement,” Sides continued.

“She needs to take certain amount of shots for us to be successful,” she added.

Christie Sides lauds Caitlin Clark’s playmaking ability

Caitlin Clark leads the league in assists, averaging 8.2 dimes per game.

The rookie’s playmaking ability was one of the major reasons why the Indiana Fever finished the first half of the season with an 11-15 record.

“It’s just been so fun to be out on the court with Caitlin Clark and the things that she sees,” said Sides.

“Her court vision and the passes that she makes … sometimes you just have to pause.

I just turn around and am like wow,” the Fever coach added.

In their first game after the break, Clark and the Indiana Fever face the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.