Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever clinched their first WNBA playoff berth since 2016 on Tuesday, September 3 but how did the 22-year-old basketball star react when the team found out they’re going to the postseason?
The Las Vegas Aces’ 90-71 win against the Chicago Sky and the Phoenix Mercury’s 74-66 triumph over the Atlanta Dream saw Clark and her crew book their spot in the playoffs, for which only eight teams can qualify.
Caitlin Clark unusual behavior with microphone in Fever postgame
It means the Fever’s 18-16 record (.529) is insurmountable with six games to go meaning the rookie will earn her shot at WNBA glory, but she chose to celebrate the moment in a unique way by simply going to bed.
“I stay up late, so it’s not really unusual. But yeah, I was up. I did see it,” Clark said of the two games. “My reaction was I turned [the TV] off and went to sleep.
“I didn’t even check my phone until the next morning and that’s kind of when I had the most messages and stuff.”
Clark’s Fever war cry
Despite knowing they clinched their spot already, the Fever have not taken their foot off the proverbial gas as they cruised to a 93-86 victory against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 4, with Clark putting up 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
It now means the Fever have scored 293 points in their last three games and Clark has combined for 83 points, 18 rebounds and 34 assists as she finds blistering form, as does her team which have now won 10 games from 14 since the start of July.
Clark’s combined season stats now stand at 641 points (18.9 per game), 196 rebounds (5.8 per game) and 286 assists (8.4 per game) as she continues to find herself tipped to win the Rookie of the Year Award and even the MVP award.
“It’s definitely a big moment for this place,” Clark added to reporters. “But at the same time I came in with the expectation that this was what was going to happen.
“For me, this isn’t like, a party. Yeah it’s great, I feel it’s a great accomplishment but there is so much more left to be done.
“We made the playoffs, there are six regular season games [left]. “I’m not just happy to be in the playoffs. I think we have the type of team that can win and advance. One game at a time.”
