From the second training camp started in May, it was going to be a different experience for Alysha Clark. Not only was she still making the transition from being primarily a post player to one that can play on the wing but she suddenly found herself as one of the older players on the team.

It was startling at first but as camp and the season wore on, Clark became one of the more prominent leaders for the Storm.

“Being one of the old ones when I got here was very weird because since I got here I had been one of the young ones,” Clark said. “But it was actually pretty cool. I had a lot of fun just teaching and growing.”

Clark also had to adjust to a new system under Storm head coach Jenny Boucek, however being around Boucek as an assistant in Seattle over the last few years, Clark was able to help translate the plays for the younger players.

“Even though I’ve been here, Jenny’s system was new so I was having to learn everything as well,” she said. “I think just me knowing Jenny and picking up on things, I could give pointers to help out. It was fun to see everyone just grow.

“From the start of the season, the progression that we made to the last game, it was fun to watch and fun to be a part of.”

Her understanding of the system and the work she put it translated on the court. Clark set career highs in nearly every statistical category, including starts (31), points (6.9), rebounds (3.7), assists (1.2), and shooting percentage (.544). What was most impressive was her efficiency.

She finished with a league-best 64.6 true shooting percentage, which takes into account three-point and free throw shooting. That mark was also the eighth best in WNBA history and second in franchise history (Lauren Jackson, 65.8, 2006).

Clark was also far and away the best shooter from inside the arc at 68.9 percent. The next closest was Brittney Griner at 56.5.

On top of that, she finished fourth in the league for players with at least 20 minutes per game with 1.09 turnovers per game.

It was like having another coach on the floor and the Storm essentially did. Clark had spent a season as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Middle Tennessee State, and those coaching tendencies showed up throughout the season.

“From a coaching standpoint, when you watch your team, you kind of have an overall view of this is where we start and you know what little things to watch for over the season,” she said. “We got better, oh, it could be our defensive scheme. Now we’re moving and we’re covering each other better. Little stuff like that I kind of paid attention to and noticed… I was like, ‘Wow, three weeks ago we weren’t doing that and now we’re doing it.’ I was like, ‘That’s freaking awesome.’ It brought a different perspective in terms of what to look for and see the growth.”

She also had the arduous task of guarding some of the best players in the league. The Storm had consecutive games against the Sparks and the Dream, which meant power forward Nneka Ogwumike and guard Angel McCoughtry. Clark pulled the assignments on those nights and forced Ogwumike into a career-high eight turnovers and McCoughtry into seven.

Against McCoughtry, Clark scored a career-high 14 points. Seattle won both those games.

Clark pulled duty at three different positions over the season and had to play as a guard and as a post player.

“That is something I’ve learned to expect since coming into the league is really understanding the importance of my versatility as a player,” Clark said.  “The post is my comfort zone because that’s where I’ve played my whole career. That wasn’t anything that was shocking. It was something I enjoyed. I’m used to knowing where to move, where to pop. For me as a player, having that versatility is something I take pride in.”

Clark made multiple transitions this season and thrived, which could be a sign of things to come in 2016.