Sandy Brondello’s Honest Admission on Caitlin Clark Highlights Indiana Fever Superstar's Gravity

Though she missed a huge chunk of games for the Indiana Fever last season, Caitlin Clark still commanded the respect of her opponents. As for the coaches of the teams she went up against, they didn't have an easy time strategizing a game plan to limit her greatness on the court.

Sandy Brondello, who last coached the New York Liberty, knows what it's like to prepare her team for Clark. Appearing on the "Bird's Eye View" podcast, Brondello admitted to host Sue Bird that CC is one of the most difficult players to coach against in the WNBA today.

"I think Caitlin Clark is really hard to guard when she's healthy," Brondello said. "She can shoot it from way out, she can pass it. I think she's been a tough one."

Brondello, who will be making history as the inaugural coach of the expansion team Toronto Tempo, talked about defying analytics and calling for her players to draw closer to Clark on defense.

"Sometimes, the analytics may say, 'Go under on her. She's not shooting so well.' Then, she makes five shots...'Okay, play a little closer now!'" Brondello said.

In two games against Brondello's Liberty this past season, Clark averaged 25.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 9.5 apg. Though New York held Clark to 18 points on 33.3% field goal shooting in their May 24 matchup, the Fever superstar made a resounding comeback from injury by dropping 32 points against the Liberty on June 14.

When the new WNBA season begins, Clark will perhaps have recuperated enough to make another comeback. By then, Brondello will have to guide an expansion team to achieve the objective of limiting her production.

Caitlin Clark shares touching story about former Iowa Hawkeyes HC

Meanwhile, in a recent collaboration video with Eli Lilly and Glamour magazine, Clark told a heartwarming story about her former college head coach Lisa Bluder.

"We always had a 'breast cancer game,' and she [Bluder] would always bring in cancer survivors that got to tell their story," Clark recalled in the video. "It put great perspective, not just for basketball, but what we got to do for other people."

In this clip, Clark also stated that Bluder (who coached her for four years in the Iowa Hawkeyes program) has left "a great impact on my life."

Edited by Simoun Victor Redoblado