Caitlin Clark of Fever on playing with Kelsey Mitchell
The Fever are 6-1 after the Olympic break because Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell play so well together
INDIANAPOLIS – It’s official: The Indiana Fever’s playoff drought ends after seven seasons.
The Fever have officially clinched a playoff spot as Chicago lost to Las Vegas and Atlanta lost to Phoenix late Tuesday night. Even if Indiana were to now lose each of its final seven games, it would still be in the playoffs.
This is the first time the Fever have clinched a playoff berth since 2016. Their seven seasons without a playoff appearance were the longest active drought in the WNBA and tied for the longest drought of all time (the Chicago Sky missed the playoffs seven seasons in a row from 2006-2013).
The Fever clinched a spot with seven games to go in the season – a stark contrast to some past seasons when they were eliminated with that many (or more) games left. Indiana was close to the playoffs last year but was eliminated with five games to go.
This will be Indiana’s first playoff berth since Tamika Catchings, Indiana’s franchise player from 2002 to 2016, retired. And it’s fitting that this comes in the first season the Fever potentially have a new franchise player in rookie Caitlin Clark.
Clark, who was drafted No. 1 by the Fever in April after winning two consecutive national player of the year awards, joined the Fever with Aliyah Boston (No. 1 pick, 2023), NaLyssa Smith (No. 2 pick, 2022) and Kelsey Mitchell (No. 2 pick, 2018). Indiana had some initial struggles, typical for a young team with a new point guard. The grueling schedule didn’t help, as the Fever had 11 games in 19 days to start the season; they started 2-9.
The Fever have a 15-7 record since that opening period and have won at least one game against 10 of their 11 division opponents, including the New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx. The only team the Fever have not beaten this season is the Las Vegas Aces, who return to Indianapolis for back-to-back games on September 11 and 13.
Clark has put up unprecedented numbers in her rookie season, averaging 18.7 points, 8.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. Earlier this season, she recorded the first rookie triple-double in WNBA history and currently leads the league in assists per game. She has already broken the rookie assist record and is on pace to surpass the single-season assist record set just last season by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun.
Clark is unique in her ability to combine playmaking and scoring skills – her 18.7 points per game are second-best on the Fever (behind Mitchell) and ninth-best in the league. She has the most double-doubles by a guard in a season in WNBA history, and all of them have been with points and assists.
Mitchell, a seven-year veteran, has also played the best basketball of her career this season, scoring 20-plus points in seven straight games, breaking a Fever franchise record. Her speed on the court has paired well with Clark’s intricate passing, making them a nearly unstoppable backcourt duo.
Led by Mitchell and Clark, the Fever have gone 6-1 since the Olympic break. Indiana is currently 17-16 – the first time it has been above .500 since 2019.
The Fever are ranked 6th in the WNBA standings, so if the season ended today, the Fever would face the 3rd seed Minnesota Lynx in a best-of-3 series.
