The wins proceed to roll in for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. The Fever could have began the WNBA season 1-8, however during the last 15 video games, they’re tied with the Lynx for the third finest file within the league at 10-5.
As such, a crew that after seemed to be destined for the lottery now appears to be one of many extra formidable groups within the combine for a… WNBA championship.
It sounds loopy at first look. How might a crew that after appeared destined to be traditionally dangerous now be within the combine for a title?
For one, a a lot as Indiana struggled early on, the crew doesn’t lack expertise. Head coach Christy Sides routinely mentioned that there was hardly any time for apply originally of the season, and it was clear this crew wanted it.
However, regardless of the way you slice it, the Fever boast three All Stars: Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and Aliyah Boston. At her finest, Mitchell is among the most effective guards within the league — out of guards who common a minimum of 17 factors per sport, Mitchell is considered one of solely two who shoot above 45% (Kahleah Copper is the opposite). Boston was the unanimous Rookie of the Yr final 12 months, and amongst forwards averaging a minimum of 10 factors per sport, she has the highest area objective share at 52.7%.
In the meantime, Caitlin Clark is on tempo to have probably the most assists by any WNBA participant ever in a single season, and over her final 10 video games, she’s the sixth main scorer within the league at 20.4 factors per sport. This trio is legit.
The Fever are in all probability nonetheless just a few years away — however what in the event that they’re not?
At 13-15, the Fever have the Seventh-best file within the WNBA, so, because it presently stands, they’d face the Solar within the first spherical of the playoffs. They’re nonetheless a beneath .500 crew, and have a methods to go earlier than they will actually be thought of one of many main contenders, however one thing that appeared utterly off the desk just some months in the past now seems to be inside attain.
Caitlin Clark is beginning to seem like Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell like one of many extra formidable scorers within the league, and Aliyah Boston like a publish participant who can dangle with anybody. There’s one thing particular brewing.
All of that was on show on Sunday towards the Mercury, when Clark put collectively one other sturdy efficiency and completed with 23 factors, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell continued her offensive excellence with a 27-point outing, taking pictures 10-19 from the sphere and 5-8 from three, whereas Lexie Hull had her finest sport of the season off the bench, scoring 22 factors on 6-7 from three. That win got here on the heels of a win over the Storm — back-to-back victories towards two middle-of-the-pack groups, however veteran groups slated for the playoffs, nonetheless.
Hull shouldn’t be all the time going to provide you 22 factors an evening, however she’s presently taking pictures 40.5% from three. There’s additionally NaLyssa Smith, who has averaged a close to double-double and served as a dependable starter.
The primary factor holding again Indiana proper now’s the protection, however even that’s on a optimistic upswing. Over their final 10 video games, the Fever have the Seventh-best protection within the league — removed from elite, however a lot better than the place they had been early on, which was by far the worst protection within the WNBA. They’ve additionally grabbed the highest share of rebounds of any crew over their final 15 video games. Persevering with to enhance on the defensive finish will likely be key for Indiana in the event that they’re going to make an actual playoff push. Hull, as one of many higher level of assault defenders within the WNBA, could possibly be key on that finish of the ground because the Fever look to enhance.
Over their final 15 video games, the Fever have had the league’s second-best offense, second to the Liberty, which has far and away been the very best crew within the league. They’ve additionally had the best efficient area objective share. The craziest factor in regards to the Fever offense’s success is that Clark hasn’t actually discovered her three-point shot but — she’s presently taking pictures 32.8% from past the arc, nicely beneath her school common of 37.7%. When her taking pictures catches as much as her potential, it’s solely going so as to add one other dynamic to the Fever offense.
Liberty, Aces stay the favorites to win WNBA championship
Nonetheless, it’d be onerous to argue that any crew outdoors of the Liberty is the favourite to win the WNBA championship. New York has been remarkably constant, they’ve been there earlier than, and at 23-4, they boast the very best file within the league by a substantial quantity.
And, in the event you had been going to make that argument, it’d in all probability need to be in favor of the Aces. At 17-9, they’ve been extra inconsistent this season than in years prior, however nonetheless the two-time defending champions, and have the plain finest participant on this planet.
There’s additionally the Lynx, who’ve the league’s finest protection, a slew of sharpshooters like Kayla McBride, and Napheesa Collier. The Solar have been close to the highest of the league all 12 months lengthy, and have a veteran group that has been there earlier than.
So, there’s loads of groups that could possibly be within the combine for that elusive WNBA title. These 4 — the Aces, Liberty, Lynx, and Solar — groups must be the betting favorites to win all of it. But when the items can proceed to come back collectively for Indiana — and if the protection can step it up a notch — they won’t be as far-off because it appears.
The primary spherical of the WNBA playoffs is a best-of-three collection. The Fever, with their dynamic offense and Caitlin Clark’s passing prowess, are higher outfitted to upset a contender than most bottom-seeded groups. All it’s going to take is 2 wins. Then, there are simply 4 groups left. A best-of-five-series creates much less room for an upset, but when Indiana can proceed trending in the best path, it’s not utterly off the desk.
The Fever have some good assessments developing — on Saturday, they journey to Minnesota, the place they’ll face the very best protection within the league. Subsequent week, they’ll search for their first win towards the Solar (who they’re presently 0-3 towards, however all three losses got here earlier within the season). In September, back-to-back residence video games towards the Aces will give Indiana an opportunity to see how they stack up towards the defending champions. These 4 video games, together with the opposite eight video games left on the schedule, will give us a clearer image of how totally different the August Fever are from the Could Fever. Proper now, we’re seeing indicators that these groups are very totally different.