Caitlin Clark has been on a tear for the reason that Olympic break, averaging 24.3 factors per recreation on 43.6% taking pictures together with a league-best 8.9 assists. Her play has been an enormous a part of why the Fever have climbed to the #6 seed, and has put in place to obtain MVP votes.
Forward of the Indiana Fever’s last common season recreation, Clark was requested about what it’s wish to know that media members who cowl the WNBA imagine that she’s one of many prime 5 candidates for the MVP award (members submit 5 picks for MVP, so as from #1 to #5. A’ja Wilson is taken into account the heavy favourite for the award, however Clark has appeared on quite a few shared ballots for First Staff All-WNBA, together with ESPN’s and The Athletic’s.
“It’s positively cool, particularly the place I began the yr after which was in a position to sort of determine it out as we go,” Clark instructed reporters, per Chloe Peterson of Indy Star Sports activities. “And now, getting into Recreation 40, it feels evening and day from the place I began. I’m pleased with myself in that regard. I’ve realized rather a lot, and I’ve needed to be taught with out actually a lot time to observe or have an offseason to implement issues that I need to implement, and having to be taught a brand new scheme and new teammates and new coaches.”
Caitlin Clark on being in MVP conversations this yr:
“It’s positively cool … getting into recreation 40, it’s evening and day from the place I began, and I’m pleased with myself in that regard.” pic.twitter.com/b4iGVOsUHm
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) September 19, 2024
The Fever have been the league’s third-best staff for the reason that Olympic break, accruing a 9-4 document. Clark credit her skill to play her recreation and the staff’s rising familiarity for the midseason turnaround.
“As soon as we sort of discovered our groove, my teammates have allowed me to be myself, and that’s what’s sort of introduced up some success,” she mentioned.
There’s been an unlimited quantity of discourse round Caitlin Clark’s recognition, the Rookie of the 12 months race, and the MVP dialog — however Clark mentioned she’s managed to maintain her concentrate on the sport itself.
“One of many greatest issues for myself is I’ve tried to maintain basketball the primary factor, and simply to get pleasure from it and play enjoyable and play and have enjoyable, play free,” Clark mentioned. “That’s once I’m actually at my finest. However on the similar time, you don’t get caught up in all of that. That sort of simply comes with the way you carry out on the ground. So, it’s positively a cool honor folks which were within the basketball world of the WNBA area for a extremely very long time to consider you in that method. However on the similar time, I really feel like there may be simply a lot room for me to enhance.”
The Fever started the season with a 1-8 document, however Clark mentioned they by no means misplaced religion that they may flip issues round.
“Our vitality, it by no means was flat,” Clark mentioned. “We got here in and we acquired higher and we knew that the tide was going to show for us, and it definitely did.”
No matter what occurs within the first spherical of the playoffs, this season will largely be thought-about a hit for the Fever, who went from the #10 seed in 2023 to the #6 seed in 2024. Clark has exceeded expectations, Aliyah Boston has made strides throughout the board, and Kelsey Mitchell is having a profession yr. The Fever will face both the Connecticut Solar or Indiana Fever within the first spherical, in a best-of-three sequence that may start Sunday.
“Clearly we now have huge objectives within the playoffs,” Clark mentioned. “I nonetheless really feel like there’s much more for us that we will can obtain, and nonetheless exceed some expectations that folks have for us.”
