Caitlin Clark addresses criticism, looks to channel it 'positively'

Caitlin Clark, now of the Indiana Fever, resumed her whirlwind media tour Wednesday with an appearance on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show."

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Clark will have to make her mark in a league full with veterans like Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart, who may dislike her unexpected prominence as she begins her professional career.

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[{"selector":"#anim-f1bd7c50-5ba3-4c6c-ac17-5c1c9da197fa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.923751986474166%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Clark also acknowledged her playing style may rub some people the wrong way, but she said it all comes from her competitive spirit.

"If I hadn't had that, I doubt I would have achieved the achievements I have. Throughout my career, I've been able to channel it more effectively and use it positively rather than adversely."

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[{"selector":"#anim-582ade1f-cf86-43a1-b828-c1ec70e772eb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Clark has already had a significant impact on the league prior to his professional debut.

[{"selector":"#anim-844935e3-8151-4869-837f-2a7a186a11a8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(47.08912203402807%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1c50014-a361-47ae-a89a-78aa8ab83776","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] . This year's WNBA draft televised broke the previous record for television viewership,

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[{"selector":"#anim-23add0e6-8388-4fa3-a587-16c92a0c5e19 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] "I don't feel any pressure to take it to a place it's never been before," she told me. "I think that's just going to happen with the way we're on TV more, with the way people are following from the college game to the WNBA."