The Rising Star and Her Ideal Companion: Why Elena Delle Donne Would Have Been Caitlin Clark’s Perfect Partner
Caitlin Clark has undeniably transformed the landscape of women’s professional basketball, establishing herself as the undisputed cornerstone of the Indiana Fever franchise through her extraordinary blend of scoring prowess, court vision, and magnetic charisma that has captivated audiences nationwide. Following her remarkable Rookie of the Year campaign that announced her arrival as a generational talent, Clark has continued to demonstrate why she belongs among the elite echelon of WNBA players, consistently delivering impressive statistical performances that include averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds across the 13 games she has participated in during this current season. Beyond her measurable contributions on the hardwood, the 23-year-old point guard has single-handedly revitalized the Indiana Fever organization by bringing unprecedented levels of energy, enthusiasm, and national media attention to a franchise that had previously struggled to maintain relevance in the competitive landscape of professional women’s basketball.
Throughout her remarkable two-season tenure with the Indiana Fever, Clark has been fortunate to share the court with exceptional talents like the dynamic scoring guard Kelsey Mitchell and the versatile forward-center Aliyah Boston, forming what many analysts consider to be the foundational core of a youthful, rapidly evolving team that possesses tremendous potential for future championship contention. While her seamless chemistry and complementary playing style with these two established stars continues to produce remarkable results and generate significant positive momentum for the Fever organization, WNBA legend and Hall of Fame inductee Sheryl Swoopes recently offered her expert perspective on the one iconic player she believes would represent the absolute perfect fit to play alongside Clark in Indiana’s current roster construction and strategic framework.
When presented with the intriguing hypothetical scenario of allowing each current WNBA team to add one retired league great to their roster, Swoopes demonstrated no hesitation whatsoever in her selection process, immediately identifying two-time Most Valuable Player Elena Delle Donne as the ideal teammate and strategic complement to Clark’s unique skill set and playing style. “I’m bringing EDD to the Fever,” Swoopes declared with characteristic confidence and conviction, before elaborating on her reasoning: “Here’s why, you have [Aliyah] Boston starting, you have [Natasha] Howard starting… When you put EDD in, she gives you a different look that completely changes the dynamic of your offensive system and creates matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.”
Swoopes continued her analysis by painting a vivid picture of the offensive possibilities: “Can you picture this hypothetical lineup: you’ve got Caitlin at the 1, Kelsey Mitchell positioned on one wing and EDD strategically placed on the other wing? That combination would create an absolutely devastating offensive arsenal that would be virtually impossible for any defense to contain effectively, representing some serious scoring firepower that could dominate games.”
The veteran analyst’s enthusiastic endorsement of Delle Donne carries substantial weight and credibility, particularly considering the former Delaware star’s extraordinary resume and list of accomplishments throughout her distinguished professional career. The seven-time WNBA All-Star selection has accumulated nearly every individual accolade and honor available in the league, including the prestigious 2015 and 2019 WNBA Most Valuable Player awards that recognized her as the absolute best player in the world during those respective seasons. Delle Donne established herself as one of the most efficient and effective scorers in the history of women’s professional basketball, and her impressive combination of size, exceptional shooting ability, and advanced basketball intelligence would have created a seamless and perfectly complementary partnership with Clark’s exceptional court vision, leadership qualities, and perimeter shooting gravity that consistently opens up opportunities for teammates.
For an Indiana Fever team that has been strategically constructed around the fundamental principles of optimal floor spacing, ball movement, and creating high-percentage scoring opportunities through systematic offensive execution, Delle Donne would have integrated seamlessly into their existing framework alongside established contributors like Mitchell and Boston, creating a dynamic that would have elevated the entire team’s ceiling and championship aspirations.
The connection between Clark and Delle Donne extends far beyond hypothetical roster construction, as these two exceptional players share significant historical links that date back to Clark’s legendary collegiate career at the University of Iowa. During her record-breaking run with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark achieved a remarkable milestone by reaching the 2,000-point mark in her 75th collegiate game on December 21, 2022, a feat that tied Delle Donne’s existing record as the fastest women’s player in NCAA Division I history to reach that prestigious scoring milestone, demonstrating the parallel excellence of these two generational talents.
Following that historic achievement, Clark spoke with genuine admiration and respect about Delle Donne’s influence on her development as a player: “Elena Delle Donne, she was a person I idolized growing up and someone whose game I studied extensively,” Clark revealed after eclipsing the milestone, adding the touching detail that “I have her shoes in my locker as a constant reminder of the standard of excellence I’m striving to achieve.” Clark would eventually surpass Delle Donne’s impressive 3,039-point collegiate record, ultimately establishing herself as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history across both men’s and women’s basketball with an astounding 3,951 career points before making her successful transition to professional basketball in the WNBA.
