Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever secure sixth seed in WNBA playoffs
USA TODAY’s Lindsay Schnell explains how impressive Caitlin Clark has been in helping to secure the sixth seed in the WNBA playoffs.
Sports Pulse
WNBA playoff season is here and for the first time in nearly a decade, the Indiana Fever are joining the party.
When Caitlin Clark was drafted No. 1 in April, the question on everyone’s mind was if the record-setting sensation from Iowa could lift the Fever back to the postseason. She did just that, helping Indiana secure the No. 6 seed. Now the question is, can they win a playoff series — or even a playoff game?
That journey starts Sunday, as the Fever take on No. 3 seed Connecticut in the Sun’s home arena. The teams met four times in the regular season, with Connecticut winning three of those games. But Indiana won the most recent matchup, 84-80, on Aug. 28.
The favorite for Rookie of the Year has helped the league experience unprecedented popularity this season and gotten plenty of attention and accolades herself. Early Sunday, when A’ja Wilson was named the unanimous MVP it was also revealed that Clark finished ahead of Connecticut’s do-everything guard/forward Alyssa Thomas in MVP voting (Clark was fourth with 130 votes, Thomas finished fifth with 83). Does Thomas use that as motivation Sunday, Wednesday and possibly Friday in their best-of-three series?
One other thing to keep in mind: Connecticut guard Marina Mabrey, who was traded to the Sun just before the Olympic break, only played in the final Indiana-Connecticut matchup, when she and the Sun were still feeling each other out. She’s a seamless part of their offense now. Does that make her the X-factor of this series?
MORE: ‘Marvel at it now:’ A’ja Wilson’s greatness on display as Aces pursue WNBA three-peat
MORE: WNBA postseason preview: Strengths and weaknesses for all 8 playoff teams
The Fever travel to the Sun for Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round playoff series Sunday.
Game time is 3 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on ABC. It will be available to view on demand on WNBA League Pass after it concludes. Fans can get the WNBA League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.
The game can be streamed on Fubo.
(* – If necessary; all times Eastern)
Sunday:
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Friday:
(* – If necessary; all times Eastern)
Read more prognostications and analysis here.
A’ja Wilson won her third MVP award Sunday, joining Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson as the only players with three. Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the only players selected in a unanimous vote. And the Las Vegas Aces star did it by becoming the first WNBA player to lead the league in points, rebounds and blocks.
Caitlin Clark, who is expected to easily win Rookie of the Year, finished fourth in the voting, behind Napheesa Collier, of the Minnesota Lynx, and Breanna Stewart of the Aces.
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