WNBA: Indiana Fever overachieved in Caitlin Clark’s rookie season

The Indiana Fever set quite a few attendance and viewership information in the course of the 2024 WNBA season, largely because of a specific younger participant who excelled at her job. Extra importantly, Caitlin Clark, the anticipated 2024 Rookie of the Yr, took her crew to the playoffs for the primary time since 2016. Previous to the season, a playoff berth would’ve been a lofty objective, and through a troublesome begin to the season, such an ambition appeared to be slipping away.

Whereas the Fever did make one mistake in letting Celeste Taylor go, by holding the remainder of the roster and head coach collectively, they allowed the crew to jell and the coach to determine issues out, permitting everybody to see what this group was able to.

What went proper in Indiana?

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Pictures

Caitlin Clark confirmed she’s the true deal

This one’s fairly apparent, however it should be careworn that whereas many gamers may need folded beneath such strain, Clark, a rookie, fully tuned out the eye, targeted on her sport and dodged any points that had been being pushed her approach by journalists searching for controversies or different voices making an attempt to downplay her achievements. At this stage of her profession, she’s the very best level guard within the league, which possible will culminate in a spot on the All-WNBA First Workforce. And the scary factor is that she’ll proceed to get higher.

Head coach Christie Sides figured it out

At occasions, her rotations had been questionable. Gamers had been dropping beginning spots solely to regain them for no obvious motive. Minutes had been going up and down. However, it turned out that each one head coach Christie Sides wanted was a while to make the crew see her imaginative and prescient. She continued to concentrate on protection and the main target will stay there, as guarding the basket continues to be the most important situation confronted by the Fever. Sides confirmed unimaginable persistence with the roster, in addition to an equally commendable capacity to work beneath strain.

What’s subsequent for the Fever?

Picture by Emilee Chinn/Getty Pictures

Will the Fever proceed to draw file curiosity?

It stays to be seen how the Fever will construct on Caitlin Clark’s rookie season, on and off the court docket. After topping their total house attendance from final season after simply 5 video games, the Fever completed this season with an total attendance file of 306,167. With the Caitlin Clark Impact in full impact, the tickets principally bought themselves. However what about subsequent 12 months when the novelty wears off? Or when the crew struggles, because it did within the early phases of 2024?

The advertising and marketing and PR groups will must be on their toes to maintain up fan curiosity in Fever. If the Sparks land the No. 1 choose and LA options the one-two punch of Paige Bueckers and Cameron Brink, the Fever might not stay the media darlings they had been in 2024, and their shortcomings will not be as simply forgiven.

How will Dunn and firm reshuffle the roster round Clark?

Nonetheless, the hardest task this offseason can be placed on Lin Dunn’s shoulders, because the skilled normal supervisor will discover herself with some very important choices to make, even when Kelsey Mitchell, who’s an unrestricted free agent, decides to remain.

The principle points are at small and energy ahead. Lexie Hull has been a real revelation, together with her 3-point taking pictures and her protection, however is that sufficient for her to stay the starter? NaLyssa Smith did her finest to suit into Sides’ offensive schemes, however she deserves extra touches and extra performs to indicate her full potential. Because the fourth offensive choice, she was unable to stay constant. The truth that she misplaced the beginning spot in Sport 2 of the primary spherical of the playoffs reveals that Sides prefers extra typical energy forwards, and Smith’s end-of-season social media submit might sign that she is searching for a approach out of Indy.

As for Caitlin Clark, she wants time. We’ve simply witnessed probably the greatest rookie seasons in WNBA historical past. Within the two playoff video games in opposition to the Connecticut Solar, she was requested to do an excessive amount of for a crew chief, not to mention for a rookie who’s nonetheless discovering her footing on this new state of affairs. Will probably be Dunn’s job to reduce the burden subsequent season.