ESPN has high WNBA expectations for Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever.
After securing the top draft pick in consecutive years following a period of struggles, the Indiana Fever are in the midst of a remarkable transformation this season, evident from their recent successes.
With rising stars like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, the Fever arguably boast the most impressive single-season improvement in the WNBA, bouncing back from a challenging previous year.
With a current record of 11-15, the Fever turned their season around after a difficult 1-8 start, going 10-7 thereafter. Their strong performance has earned them the 7th seed in the WNBA standings as they head into the Olympic break. ESPN forecasts that their current form could lead them to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
The Fever have faced considerable adversity due to personnel issues and draft decisions since their last playoff appearance in 2016. However, the selections of Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark as consecutive No. 1 picks have proven to be major successes. Both players have shown significant growth, contributing to the team’s overall improvement following a challenging 1-8 start to the season.
Kelsey Mitchell, another high draft pick at No. 2 in 2018, now benefits from a stronger supporting cast, potentially leading to her first playoff appearance. The Fever are poised to capitalize on the Olympic break, providing crucial rest for Clark, who has been continuously active since her senior college season at Iowa.
Despite Clark missing out on the US Olympic team selection despite her standout rookie performance, this break offers her the most significant period of rest in over a year. The Fever’s next game isn’t until August 16th, holding a three-game lead over the Atlanta Dream, currently just outside playoff contention.
Five of the Fever’s remaining 14 games are against teams currently outside the playoff bracket, presenting ample opportunities to secure victories and clinch a postseason berth in Caitlin Clark’s debut WNBA season.
