Indiana Fever’s head coach, Christie Sides, missed witnessing her team’s historic playoff-clinching moment as she slept through it, while rookie guard Caitlin Clark watched the game and then went to bed. The team secured their playoff spot after a seven-year drought on a night they didn’t even play, making the occasion feel somewhat less ceremonious for the top-drawing team in the WNBA.
The following morning, the Indiana Fever found themselves in a new light. Despite enduring seven consecutive losing seasons and a slow start to this season, the team became the center of attention in Indianapolis after clinching a playoff spot. Sides, who was named WNBA coach of the month, woke up to a flood of congratulatory messages, despite missing the moment the night before.
The playoff berth came as losses by other teams guaranteed Indiana’s spot in the postseason, ending a dry spell since the retirement of Tamika Catchings in 2016. Although Sides had hoped for a home-court clinching celebration, the team members were all smiles during warmups on Wednesday, including standout players like Clark and Mitchell, who were excited about their first taste of playoff basketball.
While making it to the playoffs was the goal from the start, it was a challenging journey, particularly with a rough early schedule and Clark transitioning from college to the pros. However, since June 1, Indiana has turned things around with a 16-8 record, defeating some of the league’s top teams and stopping a long streak of consecutive losing games.
Clark’s presence has undeniably played a significant role in the Fever’s success, attracting sellout crowds and high television viewership. Indiana leads the league in attendance both at home and on the road, with Clark becoming the league’s focal point. With Clark’s popularity soaring, potential matchups against other top players in the playoffs could draw massive audiences.
Looking ahead, the Fever, currently on an 8-2 streak, have the potential to disrupt the top teams in the league with more home games remaining in the season. Clark, unfazed by the playoff spot, is focused on advancing in the playoffs and taking it one game at a time, showing determination to keep pushing forward despite the achievement of making the postseason.
