Caitlin Clark’s initial WNBA stint with the Indiana Fever has been far from ideal.

The team has suffered two losses, totaling a deficit of 57 points. Clark’s performance on the court reflects this struggle, as she has only managed to score 29 points while shooting 7-of-23 from the field. Additionally, she has tallied a mere nine assists coupled with a league-leading 13 turnovers.

Amidst this rough start, there’s speculation about whether former Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder could offer assistance. Despite boasting talents like Clark, Aliyah Boston (the 2023 top pick), and NaLyssa Smith (the 2022 second pick), Indiana’s disappointing performance has led to doubts regarding head coach Christie Sides’ capabilities.

Sides, who assumed the coaching position before the 2023 season, oversaw a dismal record of 13-27, the lowest in the league. Consequently, fans and some members of the media are now contemplating Bluder as a potential replacement.

Bluder, aged 63, recently retired after more than two decades coaching the Iowa Hawkeyes. However, she hinted at the possibility of a comeback, expressing her enduring passion for the sport.

“There is never an ideal time to retire and I am sure this fall that I will miss the games, the practices, the road trips, the atmosphere, the tremendous fans and, most importantly, the players,” she said in a statement at the time.

Bluder also has a unique bond with Clark which she’s spoken about at length.

“Everybody on our team respects her and just admires the way that she treats them. She’s just a very thoughtful, thoughtful individual,” Bluder said of Clark during the college season.

Could that respect and a chance at coaching women’s basketball at the highest level draw her out of retirement?

For one, the Fever job would have to come open first before it’s even a discussion. But if it does, it’s hard to imagine that there would be a better candidate than Bluder for the position.