"Carrying the team to championship": Fans hail Caitlin Clark as Indiana Fever clinch playoff berth after 8 years

The arrival of Caitlin Clark has brought in a new and exciting era for Indiana Fever basketball. It has been a gruelling eight-year stretch for Fever fans who have had little to cheer about. After a series of false dawns, however, this season feels different.

On Tuesday, Indiana clinched a spot in the WNBA playoffs. Following losses by the Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream, the Fever will finish as one of the top eight teams, qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2016.

Led by some strong performances by Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever have propelled their way up the standings over the second half of the season. Fans took to social media to praise the 22-year-old star for what has been an extraordinary rookie season.

"Caitlin is carrying the team to championship."

"Leading the team to a playoff berth as a rookie. LFG," a fan added.

"Got the 1st pick in the draft worse situation in the league and took them to the playoffs her rookie season yah shes the goat," another fan said.

"She boutta make it a movie," one fan added.

"Caitlin Clark is not only Fever savior but also WNBA savior," a fan said.

"Lead them to the playoffs in year 1 CC is proving the haters wrong very quickly," another fan added.

It has been a remarkable turn of events for the Indiana Fever who began the year with one of the worst records in the WNBA. The team struggled in May with a dismal 1-8 record in its first nine games. Coach Christie Sides made the necessary adjustments and the team has won 16 of its last 24 games.

The Fever are currently sixth in the WNBA standings with a 17-16 record. It is the first time the team has had a record over .500 since 2019.

2024 first overall pick Caitlin Clark continues to shatter WNBA records

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark brings the ball up court against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Photo Credit: Imagn

Caitlin Clark was the first pick going into the 2024 WNBA Draft but few could have expected the former Iowa Hawkeyes star to have this kind of impact in the league.

Over 33 games, the sharpshooting guard is averaging 18.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She ranks first in the leage in assists (8.4), second in 3-pointers made (3.0) and 15th in steals (1.4).

On July 6, Clark became first rookie in history to secure a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds against the New York Liberty.

On July 17, she broke the league's single-game assists records with 19 against the Dallas Wings.

Against the Connecticut Sun last week, Clark broke the record for most 3-pointers in a season by a rookie.