Indiana Fever veteran Erica Wheeler might lose her starting spot to Caitlin Clark, but has nonetheless rolled out the red carpet in welcoming the phenom to the WNBA.
Wheeler spoke to the Indianapolis Star about why she is going above and beyond to help Clark get acclimated in her new home.
“I put it as like, you know, when you go to a different school, the first day of school you don’t know anybody,” Wheeler told the outlet. “Then, you find that one person that says hi to you, and they become your best friend. For me, I just wanted to get ahead of it because I know this transition is tough.”
Wheeler, 33, has played in the WNBA for eight seasons, spending 2016-19 on the Fever, and returning to the team last year.
Last season, she started all 40 of the Fever’s games and averaged 9.9 points and 5.0 assists per game.
“It’s how I was raised, I don’t have no hate in my heart,” Wheeler said, of mentoring Clark. “I want everybody around me to win. Whether you are winning or not, I still want to push you to be great. So for me, I just thought, like, if I get ahead of it, I’m just making it comfortable right away. It’s just an easy, smooth transition. For me, I actually love it because I like being a big sister. I like helping first. I don’t really like getting help. So, it’s refreshing for me to be able to help her and be her big sister.”
Clark, who was the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft and is expected to bring a whole new level of fanfare to the league, has been appreciative of the gesture.
“I think she’s somebody that simply wants the best for people, no matter what,” she said.
“People can say that, but she really lives it, every day, and you can tell that she’s going to push me, hold me accountable, she’s going to find ways to help me learn, but at the same time, she’s going to have my back every single day, and that’s something I’m really grateful for coming into this league, having a vet that really wants the best for you is special.”