UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Head coach Christie Sides sat on the podium shortly after the Indiana Fever’s elimination with one clear message: The Recreation 2 loss was nothing for Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and the remainder of the Fever to be ashamed of. In two consecutive postseason defeats towards the veteran-laden Connecticut Solar, her younger squad left every part on the ground.
“We’re all rivals in that locker room, so it doesn’t really feel good to depart right here and never have the chance to get one other one, a possibility to maneuver ahead,” Sides mentioned after the 87-81 defeat. “However the resiliency that these guys confirmed all 12 months — God dang, give Connecticut credit score, proper? They’re an especially good crew. I’m pleased with these guys for the way we performed on Sunday, and so they took from that and actually did what we requested them to do tonight — and gave ourselves an opportunity to win.”
The Fever’s season was headlined by Clark breaking information in one of the crucial spectacular rookie campaigns ever, however it additionally included a plethora of different storylines, together with Kelsey Mitchell’s profession 12 months, Boston’s all-around sophomore leap, and Lexie Hull’s emergence as a crucial position participant. Indiana managed to beat a traditionally brutal schedule resulting in a 1-8 begin, and completed the season with a 9-5 post-Olympic file with a purpose to safe the No. 6 seed within the WNBA playoffs.
“It was particular. Numerous issues this group completed those that didn’t suppose was doable after the beginning we needed to the season,” Clark mentioned. “It’ll undoubtedly be somewhat bizarre for the primary couple weeks after which I’ll get bored and choose up a basketball once more.”
Finally, expertise received out. Within the Recreation 2 loss, Indiana wasn’t in a position to overcome a well-balanced veteran squad that noticed contributions from a spread of gamers, together with 19 factors from Alyssa Thomas, a dagger three-point shot from Marina Mabrey, and clutch late-game baskets from veteran DeWanna Bonner. DiJonai Carrington, contemporary off a Most Improved Participant -winning season, was productive on each ends, whereas Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Veronica Burton have been key off the bench.
For Indiana, Clark bounced again from a tricky Recreation 1 exhibiting with 25 factors and 9 assists, whereas Boston dominated within the put up. The Fever’s 2023 No. 1 choose scored 17 factors and 11 rebounds in Recreation 1, and adopted that up with a 16-point, 19-rebound efficiency.
“Clearly you by no means need to lose, and particularly shedding proper now with the possibility to go house and so they need extra video games,” Boston mentioned. “It really sucks. However I believe simply having the ability to get a style of this playoff feeling…” she trailed off, seemingly desirous about getting one other probability within the postseason.
“I imply, they’re a veteran squad. They make the correct reads and hit some powerful pictures.”
Nonetheless, it’d be exhausting to characterize Indiana’s season as something aside from profitable. Clark was requested to fee her efficiency, and famous she was joyful total however acknowledged she had a number of room to develop.
“I’m a tricky grader. I really feel like I had a strong 12 months,” Clark mentioned. “For me, the enjoyable half is like I really feel like I’m simply scratching the floor and I’m the one which’s nit selecting each single factor I do. I do know I need to assist this franchise… I do know there’s numerous room for me to proceed to enhance in order that’s what excites me probably the most. I really feel like I proceed to get loads higher.”
Christie Sides mirrored on how vibrant the long run is for Indiana, and the way proud she is meals this group:
“We undoubtedly have the items to have some nice years forward of us.” pic.twitter.com/8sbVvuKfpb
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 26, 2024
Kelsey Mitchell, who had a tough postseason after an incredible common season, will likely be a free agent this summer time. Whether or not Indiana will be capable of retain her — or purchase another affect gamers — is a key query heading into the offseason. Mitchell has beforehand said she would discover free company, and because the crew’s second-leading scorer and veteran chief, her loss can be monumental.
Hull, in the meantime, is signed by means of 2025, whereas veteran Erica Wheeler, like Mitchell, is a free agent. Clark and Boston, the Fever’s youngest two gamers, are each underneath contract till the foreseeable future; Boston by means of 2026, and Clark by means of 2027. That duo alone is promising sufficient that no matter who else is positioned round them, the Fever must be aggressive.
Each Clark and Boston are simply 22-years-old, and each solidified as formidable forces of their respective positions. Clark has significantly thrived when surrounded by 3-and-D gamers (like Kate Martin in Iowa and Lexie Hull in Indiana) and the Fever may explode free company to attempt to safe such a participant. Indiana additionally has its three 2024 draft picks, although the precise placements have but to be solidified. An ESPN mock draft projected Indiana touchdown the No. 8 choose.
Within the quick time period, neither Clark nor Boston have publicly shared any offseason plans, with Clark even joking she’d take into account taking over a golf profession: “I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow, I don’t know what I’m going to the following day. Possibly play some golf. I believe that’s what I’m gonna do till it turns into too chilly in Indiana. I’ll change into knowledgeable golfer.”
Boston, who solely has a 12 months of expertise as knowledgeable, maintained a big-picture perspective on the podium.
“Wanting how far we’ve come from the [early] facet of the season to now, I’m simply tremendous pleased with our group, as a result of I believe it’s such a particular twelve [players], and I simply can’t wait to see what the long run holds,” she mentioned.
Regardless of all of the success they achieved this season, the Indiana Fever by no means had an excellent shot at a championship. The Solar have made the semi-finals for seven consecutive seasons and had a mixed 222 postseason video games of expertise heading into the first-round matchup with the Fever.
“Once you’re a rebuild 12 months, everybody needs to clearly leap to the championships and convey house the ring and every part,” Boston mentioned. “However I believe while you have a look at basketball as a complete and while you have a look at the place you begin to the place you at the moment are, it’s about stepping stones.”
Clark acknowledged that coming so shut made the elimination much more painful, but in addition echoed Boston’s and Facet’s optimism.
“It’s little style of what’s doable for this group and for this franchise,” Clark mentioned. “There’s loads for us to carry our heads excessive about. This crew received 5 video games two years in the past. We’re a younger group, a reasonably inexperienced group, and we got here collectively and had numerous enjoyable enjoying with each other, and that’s generally the worst a part of it — you’re feeling such as you’re actually enjoying your finest basketball, after which it has to finish. However this group stayed resilient all 12 months and had numerous enjoyable collectively.”
Just a few months in the past, when Caitlin Clark walked off the rostrum after her Iowa crew misplaced South Carolina within the NCAA championship, she was in tears, figuring out a chapter of her life had come to an in depth.
This time, there was a lightness about Clark that mirrored she knew the state of affairs was vastly totally different: this chapter was simply getting began.
