the first regular season Caitlin Clarke The era officially ended after the Indiana Fever lost 92-91 to the Washington Mystics in the final on Thursday.
Indiana Now The focus is on the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Clark’s arrival supercharged the Fever in just one year. Now, the team is preparing for a playoff series as one of the most popular franchises in the WNBA.
This is a very different story for many of Clarke’s teammates before he was selected for the first time in April. They weren’t used to winning, and they weren’t used to playing in front of packed crowds. They weren’t used to the heavy media attention Clarke’s presence garnered.
Point guard Kelsey Mitchell told reporters before Thursday’s game that she didn’t think the public would have known much about her without Clark, saying she was accustomed to a more introverted approach to her work.
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“I think the reality is that people wouldn’t know without “C Squared” (Clark’s nickname), so hats off to Caitlyn!” Michelle said when asked about getting more attention and fan following this season.
“She’s done an incredible job in bringing in her fans and her supporters, but, for me, I laugh at it and accept it at the same time because I’ve always been under the radar. I’ve always been a very conservative, very introverted person, so now I get to see the other side of it.”
“People aren’t guaranteed to see my play, and now when they do, I just hope I do the right thing for them, I don’t want to screw it up.”
According to Nielsen, 14 of the most-watched WNBA games this season have been Indiana games. The team’s games have even managed to challenge the NFL. On September 6, while many people were focused on an NFL game in Brazil, the Minnesota Lynx-Indiana Fever matchup on ION averaged 1.26 million viewers, giving the network another WNBA game this season with an average audience of over 1 million.
Now, as the Fever head toward the postseason, the league could see historic playoff TV ratings.
Shooting guard Erica Wheeler told reporters about Clark’s presence this season.
“We just have fun with Caitlin Clark, who never takes anything seriously,” Wheeler said. “I always tell people she’s a kid at heart. … There are moments when we need to be serious, and we are serious, but most of the time we’re having fun. Because you have to understand that the outside world was really trying to get inside this building. We didn’t let it do that.”
“And having fun is a great way to escape the situation.”
Clark’s freshman season had its ups and downs.
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In the Fever’s most recent game against the Dallas Wings, Clark would pick up her seventh technical foul of the season, which meant the freshman would be suspended for one game.
During the game, Clark was walking down the floor after a turnover. She saw the replay and immediately began swearing at the referees. Kelsey Mitchell put her hand out to stop Clark from approaching the referee, while Aliyah Boston pulled Clark away and yelled, “No,” so she wouldn’t receive a technical foul.
Intervention by her teammates was successful, and Clarke got out of the game without any technicality.
Clarke has also been the victim of several controversial fouls by opponents this season, which has been a concern for both her and her team.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark signs mini basketballs for fans after the game against the Dallas Wings on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
In the Fever’s last game against the rival Chicago Sky a few weeks earlier, Chicago’s Diamond DeShields tossed Clark to the ground, earning a foul that was later upgraded to a flagrant foul.
Clark took an infamous illegal hip check from Chicago Sky forward Chennedy Carter on June 1. Clark said after that game that the hit “was not a basketball play”. Sky rookie Angel Reese struck Clark in the head with her hand while trying to intercept a pass during a game on June 16.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) signs merchandise during the game between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx at Gainbride Fieldhouse on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK)
The attacks against Clark became such a big issue in the superstar’s rookie year that former NBA player Joakim Noah suggested the Fever sign an “enforcer” to keep her from getting harmed.
“If I owned the Indiana Fever, I’d put a real enforcer there to protect her,” Noah said. told Fox News Digital“Sometimes I feel like she’s being kicked because she’s so talented. But, at the end of the day, we’re in the business of winning games. So, if I’m the owner (of the Indiana Fever), I’m bringing a real promoter in there.”
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