How do you know when is the right time to move?
What is the best advice you have been given during a game?
What do you hope to be your legacy or imprint on the game?
How to ensure that frustration does not affect your relationships with your new teammates?
Those were among the six questions reporters asked Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark on Thursday during what appeared to be the first 3½ minutes of a news conference following her team’s 89-77 loss to Seattle. .
No one seemed to notice teammate Aliyah Boston sitting to Clark’s right with a microphone in front of her as well.
When question number 7 began with the words “Caitlin, you…” Clark interrupted the reporter and pointed toward Boston.
Read more: Caitlin Clark on culture wars: Don’t use ‘my name’ to promote racism and misogyny
“Ask Aliyah a question,” Clark said.
Boston remained expressionless. “No, I’m fine,” he said.
Several reporters seemed to speak at once and Boston again indicated that they should continue as they were, but Clark waved his arm and pointed at Boston again.
“Ask Aliyah a question,” he repeated, now looking at the table.
The reporters did their duty and apparently asked Boston the last three questions of the session. She didn’t seem to hold a grudge for being ignored at first and gave thoughtful responses.
Clark finished with 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Boston scored 11 points and 14 rebounds. The Fever are 7-12 with two straight losses after a four-game winning streak.
There has been much talk this season about the amount of attention paid to Clark, NCAA basketball’s all-time leading scorer, compared to other WNBA players. Some, like Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, have been at pains to point out that the league’s current surge in popularity shouldn’t be attributed to one person alone.
Read more: Angel Reese says Caitlin Clark gets a ‘special whistle.’ It blew after Reese hit Clark in the head
Perhaps Clark was trying to repay Boston for having her back during a June 19 press conference following the Fever’s 88-81 win over the Washington Mystics. As Clark talked about an errant pass she intended to throw to Boston, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year stopped her.
“It’s OK. Don’t worry about it,” Boston told Clark before addressing reporters. “I mean, because you watch Caitlin and you watch the way she passes the ball and sometimes things happen that way and that’s OK because we’re not going to let her head down. We’re not going to take our heads off of her for any missed passes.
“Because we still get along and we know she’s a great passer, so if she thinks she can get the ball there, she’ll throw it. And if I don’t get it, then we’re good. We’re good. Don’t worry.”
“Thanks, AB,” Clark responded as both women laughed.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.