Caitlin Clark’s rookie season ended Wednesday at Mohegan Sun Arena as the Connecticut Sun proved too much for the Indiana Fever. The presumptive Rookie of the Year dropped 25 points in what turned out to be the final game of her first professional season.
The Iowa legend was selected first overall by Indiana in the 2024 WNBA Draft following the Hawkeyes’ run to the national championship. After starting the season 1-8, the Fever – and Clark – regained their identity. Clark and veteran Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell made a case for the best WNBA backcourt coming out of the Olympic break as Indiana went 8-2 in their first 10 games back.
Like other top picks in recent years, Clark has been on a wild rollercoaster since her NCAA career ended in April. In addition to the rigor on the court, Clark has also taken on the ups and downs of being perhaps the most recognizable name in women’s basketball.
“The adversity that these guys went through, just the expectations that were insane for us to start this season, and what people thought we should do, and … the outside noise that these guys had to endure from the first game so hurtful so far,” Fever coach Christie Sides said after the game. “They took care of it and kept showing up and kept coming into our locker room and kept finding ways to get better, and we fucking ended up in the playoffs. ”
Through it all, Clark’s play spoke for itself, and as she became more comfortable as a facilitator, the Fever found their way.
Heading into the 2024 WNBA playoffs, Clark averaged just over 19 points and eight assists per game for the Fever. She scored the first-ever rookie triple double, surpassing Ticha Penicheiro to become the all-time rookie assists leader in her WNBA debut season.
Clark is expected to be named the 2024 Rookie of the Year, and she could potentially become the fifth player to win unanimously – the most recent being her teammate Aaliyah Boston from last year. As for the offseason, Clark hasn’t thought too much about it, although Ryan Ruocco revealed during Wednesday’s ESPN broadcast that she “almost certainly won’t be playing basketball this offseason.”
“I was focused on beating the Connecticut Sun. I didn’t think too far. I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow. I don’t know what I’m going to do the next day.” Clark joked.
Despite not having any concrete plans, the rookie guard is looking forward to taking some time to reflect not only on her rookie year, but also on her senior season at Iowa.
“I feel like I didn’t even have time to really think about my college career because it ended so quickly, and then I came here and tried to give everything I could to this team,” Clark said. “I feel like taking some time for myself and really enjoying it and looking back… It’ll probably be a little weird for me for the first few weeks. And then I’m sure I’ll get bored and grab another basketball.”
With the 87-81 loss, the Fever are eliminated in their first playoff appearance since 2016. With the win, the Sun advance to their sixth straight WNBA semifinal. Connecticut entered the WNBA playoffs as the No. 3 seed and will face either the Mercury or the Lynx in the semifinals.