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Caitlin Clark gave her all to keep the Indiana Fever in the fight for survival, but her efforts fell short. The standout rookie delivered an impressive performance, scoring 25 points and dishing out nine assists in Indiana's 87-81 defeat to the Connecticut Sun in Game 2. It was a significant improvement from her playoff debut, where she only managed 11 points, hitting just four of 17 shots.
Clark's season was nothing short of historic, both on and off the court. She set a new single-season assist record and shattered the individual game mark with 19 assists. Additionally, Clark broke the rookie scoring record for a season, achieving the feat in 40 games. Off the court, Clark and her fellow rookies sparked a surge in WNBA ratings and attendance. Despite a blowout in Game 1, fans stayed engaged, with the game drawing an average of 1.8 million viewers, according to ESPN. This made it the most-watched WNBA playoff game since the 2000 Finals and set a record for playoff viewership on ESPN, even competing with the NFL.
This year, six different broadcast partners set new viewership records for WNBA games, all featuring the Fever. Clark's presence helped Indiana lead the league in attendance, both at home and away. The Fever averaged 17,036 fans per home game and over 15,000 on the road. Four teams even shifted their home games to larger venues when Indiana came to town to accommodate the growing crowds.
Clark's arrival in Indiana brought sky-high expectations, but after a rocky 1-8 start, a playoff push seemed out of reach. However, the team found their rhythm, powered by Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and a fast-paced offense that became increasingly hard to contain. Clark ended the regular season setting WNBA records for most assists (337), total points created (1,520), rookie points (769), and rookie three-pointers made (122). Her dual-threat ability to shoot and facilitate was evident in the first two playoff games, where she scored or assisted on 45 points, setting a new record for a rookie in a WNBA playoff game.
Remarkably, Clark achieved this after completing a full college season that ended in an April 7 national championship loss to South Carolina, underscoring her incredible natural talent. Reflecting after the game, Clark said, "The exciting part is, I feel like I'm just scratching the surface. I nitpick every detail of my game, and I know I can do more to help this team and my teammates improve. The potential for growth is what excites me the most, and I believe we'll be back next year, stronger and more prepared."
Fever coach Christie Sides shares Clark's optimism, recognizing the immense potential within the team. With decisions ahead, General Manager Lin Dunn revealed that contract talks had begun with Kelsey Mitchell. Meanwhile, NaLyssa Smith's future with the team is uncertain, as Temi Fagbenle took her spot in the starting lineup in Game 2.
