28-06-2025
"She reminds me of a female version of Steph Curry" - Rick Pitino breaks down what makes Caitlin Clark so similar to Stephen Curry
"She reminds me of a female version of Steph Curry" - Rick Pitino breaks down what makes Caitlin Clark so similar to Stephen Curry originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Ever since Caitlin Clark entered the world of professional sports, she has boosted the WNBA's marketability and financial visibility and elevated its entertainment aspect immensely. Her performances have captivated fans and forced many to ask whether anyone has impacted a league this profoundly so early in their career.
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According to St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, Clark's influence and playing style reminds him of the undisputed "Three-Point King" Steph Curry.
Rick Pitino draws a comparison between Caitlin Clark and Steph Curry
When Steph entered the NBA in 2009, he immediately showcased his range and efficiency, shooting 43.7 percent from beyond the arc in his rookie season and 44.2 percent in his second year. Statistically, Clark hasn't reached that level of sharpshooting yet - she shot 34.4 percent from three in her rookie campaign and is currently averaging 29.5 percent in the 2025 season.
But for Pitino, it is not about the raw numbers but about the fearlessness. The willingness to pull up from deep, sometimes from near the logo, with unwavering confidence, is one aspect of "Ponytail Pete's" game that reminds him of Curry. Add in their similarly lean, athletic builds, and Pitino sees even more similarities between the two stars.
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"Well, she's a great passer. She reminds me of Steph Curry when Steph Curry came into the league. She is doing what Steph did early on," Pitino confidently declared during his appearance on Colin Cowherd's 'The Herd' show. "She has unbelievable range, has great vision, is a terrific passer. You know, physically, she's a little weak, but she'll get stronger as time goes on. She really understands how to play and she reminds me of a female version of Steph Curry."
Caitlin Clark's game is more well-rounded than Steph Curry's
Though Caitlin still has a way to go before reaching Steph's elite status as a shooter, her playmaking ability sets her apart at this early stage. The Indiana Fever guard has averaged 8.6 assists per game since her debut, displaying a pass-first mentality rarely seen from a rookie guard. While a young Steph was laser-focused on scoring, Caitlin seems determined to be a true floor general - dropping dimes, elevating her teammates, and still putting up over 18 points per game.
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In the end, Rick Pitino's comparison is not just a compliment but a testament to how Caitlin has already made waves across the basketball world. When your every move starts getting compared to one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, you are clearly doing something special, and everyone in the basketball world notices you.
Nevertheless, if Clark wants to surpass the impact of a young Steph, she needs to lead her Fever team to unprecedented success, at least a meaningful and deep playoff run—something that the latter couldn't do with his Golden State Warriors team until he paired up with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Related: Doc Rivers proclaims Caitlin Clark as basketball's biggest superstar: "That's what a superstar does"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
