If you’re planning to catch some WNBA action this season, you might want to consider stocking up on some aspirin. Why? Because Caitlin Clark has officially become the league’s biggest headache—and not just for her opponents, but for anyone who dares to underestimate the Indiana Fever.
The rookie phenom, now proudly hoisting her first AP Player of the Week award like it’s just another day at the office, has been tearing through defenses like a tornado through a cornfield. Since the April Draft, which drew an impressive 2.4 million viewers (yep, you read that right), Clark’s rookie season has been a whirlwind of shattered records and opponents’ broken spirits. She’s already made history as the first rookie to notch a triple-double and set a new high-water mark for assists in a single game with a staggering 19. Oh, and did we mention she’s leading the Fever to victories with double-digit margins? Yeah, no big deal.
Sue Bird, a woman who knows a thing or four about winning championships (she’s got four WNBA titles to her name, in case you’ve been living under a rock), has been watching Clark’s meteoric rise with a mix of admiration and what seems like a hint of pity for the rest of the league. On her podcast “A Touch More,” Bird dropped this little nugget: “I won’t be surprised if, as we start to get later into the playoff runs, teams start tightening up when they realize they’re up against Clark and the Fever. You’re definitely gonna see it in the playoffs.”
Translation: Teams are already losing sleep at the thought of facing Indiana.
The Fever, who spent last season basically playing the role of everyone’s favorite punching bag, have suddenly become the team no one wants to meet in a dark alley—or in the playoffs. Thanks to Clark and her merry band of mischief-makers like Kelsey Mitchell, who’ve been cramming victories down opponents’ throats, Indiana’s record has been on the up and up. They’ve improved to a 13-15 record this season, which is about as surprising as finding out Clark can walk on water.
Bird, ever the astute observer, didn’t hold back on her praise for the Fever’s transformation. “What I see in Caitlin, what I see in Kelsey Mitchell, they’re just ramming it down people’s throats. It’s really hard; it can have your head spinning,” Bird said, likely picturing the collective dizzy spell the rest of the WNBA is experiencing.
But it’s not just about the offense, oh no. The Fever’s defense has tightened up like a corset at a Victorian ball, allowing just 78.4 points per game—third-best in the league. NaLyssa Smith is out there pulling down 7.8 rebounds per game like it’s her day job (which, technically, it is), and Aliyah Boston is tossing in 14 points and 9 boards per game just to keep things interesting. Even LSU coach Kim Mulkey couldn’t resist chiming in, giving Clark a glowing review that made it sound like she’s the glue holding the whole team together.
The Fever have also ramped up their scoring to a spicy 82.1 points per game, a nice step up from last season’s rather anemic 74.3 points. With this newfound balance of offense and defense, Indiana is gearing up to be the dark horse in the playoffs, with Clark leading the charge like a general with a basketball instead of a sword.
And why shouldn’t they be? Clark has already racked up 11 games with 20+ points and 5+ assists, including a delightful four-game streak that had her lighting up the scoreboard like it was the Fourth of July. She’s leading the league in assists with a cool 8.3 per game, and she’s second in minutes played because, apparently, she’s not content with just being great—she wants to be great for as long as possible.
So, to all the WNBA teams out there, consider this your official warning: When Sue Bird, the queen of court vision, says you should be worried about facing the Fever, you might want to take her seriously. Or at least make sure your insurance covers basketball-induced migraines.