The Indiana Fever are back in the playoffs for the first time since Tamika Catchings retired in 2016, and they have Caitlin Clark to thank. The number one overall pick has already changed the entire league. She is setting records and breaking barriers, while quickly becoming the best playmaker. Clark is already elite as a 22-year-old rookie.
Fans are excited to see what the Fever can do in the playoffs. Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell have blossomed alongside Clark. Indiana will be the sixth seed but do not be surprised to see them make a run. Clark gets better every time out, and the Fever have won seven of their last ten games.
WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes dropped by the Gil’s Arena show to discuss the league. Naturally, the Fever and Clark took center stage. Swoopes made some headlines for talking about players not wanting to be in Indiana and Clark not dominating, but it was former NBA player Rashad McCants who linked Clark and her team to Luka Doncic and the Mavericks.
Caitlin Clark called the Fever’s Luka Doncic by former NBA player
Nobody expected the Mavericks to win the Western Conference in 2024, but Doncic led them on a magical run. It was on the back of improved defense and finding a way to make the collective more than the sum of their parts.
McCants sees the Fever in a similar fashion with Clark as the superstar leading the charge. See his quote below.
“They’re the women’s version of the Dallas Mavericks. I see Caitlin being Luka. Kelsey Mitchell being Kyrie. They got pieces that are very dangerous, but they haven’t decided to play defense individually. Where collectively if they did in the playoffs, it would be more team defense, and they won’t have to focus on what we are talking about now as far as liabilities.”
Clark and Luka are both young heliocentric stars capable of creating elite offense. The Mavericks superstar was an instant sensation with five first-team All-NBA nods at 25 years old. Clark is on a similar path just a few years behind number 77. Fans should not be surprised if she lifts her team in the playoffs because that is what superstars do.
Fans can listen to the entire Gil’s Arena episode below, which features plenty on Clark and the Fever.
The Indiana Fever play their final regular season game on Thursday against the Washington Mystics before the playoffs begin on Sunday. Caitlin Clark and company will be on the road, but fans can bet it will be a sellout. Nobody wants to miss Clark and the Fever, which could be a massive edge in the postseason.
Will Clark have a special playoffs like Luka Doncic and lead the Fever on a deep run? She certainly has the talent, so stay tuned to find out.