Caitlin Clark has been on a tear because the 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 12 months after which was in a position to type of determine it out as we go,” Clark informed 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 discovered lots, and I’ve needed to study with out actually a lot time to follow or have an offseason to implement issues that I wish to implement, and having to study a brand new scheme and new teammates and new coaches.”
Caitlin Clark on being in MVP conversations this 12 months:
“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 because the Olympic break, accruing a 9-4 report. Clark credit her means to play her recreation and the staff’s rising familiarity for the midseason turnaround.
“As soon as we type of discovered our groove, my teammates have allowed me to be myself, and that’s what’s type of introduced up some success,” she mentioned.
There’s been an infinite quantity of discourse round Caitlin Clark’s recognition, the Rookie of the Yr race, and the MVP dialog — however Clark mentioned she’s managed to maintain her deal with the sport itself.
“One of many largest issues for myself is I’ve tried to maintain basketball the primary factor, and simply to take pleasure in it and play enjoyable and play and have enjoyable, play free,” Clark mentioned. “That’s once I’m actually at my greatest. However on the similar time, you don’t get caught up in all of that. That type of simply comes with the way you carry out on the ground. So, it’s positively a cool honor folks which have been within the basketball world of the WNBA area for a very very long time to consider you in that approach. However on the similar time, I really feel like there’s simply a lot room for me to enhance.”
The Fever started the season with a 1-8 report, however Clark mentioned they by no means misplaced religion that they might flip issues round.
“Our power, 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 actually 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 12 months. The Fever will face both the Connecticut Solar or Indiana Fever within the first spherical, in a best-of-three collection that can start Sunday.
“Clearly we have now large objectives within the playoffs,” Clark mentioned. “I nonetheless really feel like there’s much more for us that we are able to can obtain, and nonetheless exceed some expectations that folks have for us.”
