Playoffs clinched, more awards, another win and Caitlin Clark triple-double: A joyful 24 hours for the Indiana Fever
Caitlin Clark received two honors, Christie Sides another. But most importantly, they clinched a playoff spot with seven games to go. Then they continued their winning ways against LA.
In a matter of 21 hours, the Indiana Fever secured a spot in the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2016 and several individual honors were issued to their own. On top of that, it was announced that one of their executives was departing.
They enjoyed it, but soon their attention had to shift from celebrating these preseason goals to keeping their focus and urgency against a 7-26 LA Sparks team. The Fever are getting everyone’s best shot.
It all started around 11 a.m. during morning shootaround. The team was unusually late making their way to the court after film. Just by a few minutes, but about 10 minutes. Finally, at 11:12 a.m. team stretching got underway.
And by the time media was allowed back in a half hour later, there was mysterious confetti being cleaned up on the court. They had celebrated, but what?
The franchise’s first playoff berth since 2016 was the obvious thought. That was huge, and happened late Tuesday after both the Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream lost their games.
“Well, you know, we act old around here, so I think a lot of us were asleep,” head coach Christie Sides admitted after shootaround. “I just couldn't think about it.”
Sides even set her alarm for midnight to get up and check the scores, but she ultimately decided to turn it off. It’s out of her control and nothing will change between then and when she woke up. “It made for a really exciting morning and really happy for these guys.”
The whole city was thrilled. It’s just too bad most, especially young boys and girls, were asleep at that hour. So anticlimactic for such a significant moment for the franchise.
Normally? Absolutely not.
But this group was now above .500 (17-16) and hadn’t played meaningful postseason basketball since 2016 — a stark contrast from their regular participation from 2005-16, a notable record of 12 straight appearances. But then Tamika Catchings retired.
(As a team, they only have 19 games of playoff experience. That’s nothing.)
Eight of the 12 teams qualify and the first round is played best-of-three.
“Definitely cool, especially because it doesn't have to come down to wire for us, and I think that's special,” said Caitlin Clark. “You can just really relax and play basketball and have a lot of fun. We accomplished that, but there's still so much more left on the table that we can do.
“We can position ourselves better. We get six at home to have a lot of fun. These are ones that are very winnable for us so I think just still going one game at a time has done so well for us to get to this point. I think that should still be the focus.”
It’s still remarkable that she’s a rookie and only 22 years old. She says all the right things, looks out for fans, understands each game could be the one game a young family is able to see all season, and knows how much it means to the city.
Then a few hours later on Wednesday, the emails started piling up in the email inbox.
Clark was named Rookie of the Month for the third time this season (May, June, August). And this was one day after she was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.
But that’s not all.
Then she was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for August. The Fever are in a groove, piling up wins and to top it off, she averaged 24 points, 5.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. Even more important to her, the team was 5-1 in those games.
In addition, Sides was honored as the Coach of the Month for August. That’s a first for the franchise.
The Fever led the league in scoring (89.7 ppg) and were fifth defensively last month.
Remember that confetti? It wasn’t for the team checking the preseason box of reaching the playoffs. Nope, it was for Sides, along with balloons and a cake.
“I've experienced this in Chicago and the confetti that falls when you clinch,” Sides said. “That was all the things I was thinking about. And that was for our team who's never experienced it.
“Especially Kelsey Mitchell, who I just really am really happy for her getting to experience this with what she's gone through here and what she's done and who she is.”
Mitchell on their mind, and on a t-shirt
Mitchell has been on a tear as much as anybody in the league. She’s second in scoring since the break, only behind Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson.
Sides will often wear a t-shirt of one of her players who she feels is deserving. At shootaround, she was in a red Mitchell t-shirt jersey for her veteran.
“Kelsey Mitchell has been here and just been through some really hard times,” Sides said. “And so, just throughout this process, anytime I thought about making it to playoffs, she's top of mind for me because she's deserved this and she hasn't had the easiest year. And just for her to get this, experience playoffs for the first time is really incredible.”
Sides also pointed out that what they’re doing, especially as of late, is with five Fever draft picks in the starting lineup.
Clark was asked about her award and if you’ve been following closely, you know she doesn’t outwardly care about individual records or honors. She’s a competitor so of course she’s aware, but it’s not something she gets caught up in. Over the weekend, she insisted to Chicago media that they quit asking about the Rookie of the Year Award.
And then on Wednesday, like Sides before her, she wanted to single out Mitchell.
“It's definitely cool and special,” Clark said of the awards. “I feel like I've had an opportunity to kind of adjust and get comfortable, and I feel like I'm starting to play good basketball. I feel like there's still so many ways that I can continue to improve and get better for this team.
“But at the same time, I felt like Kels probably should have got a little love. I honestly thought she probably should have been player of the month, just what she was doing. And at the clips she was doing it.
“She was 50-40-90 this month, which is really, really hard to do. So I feel very fortunate to play with her. And honestly, I'm not even trying to be corny. Like, I really think she deserved it.
“So I think sharing that with her, and I feel lucky to have kind of a back-court mate that has been through this for seven years and has really helped me and kind of let me flourish, and same with Christie.
“I think Christie has definitely allowed me to be myself and figure out this team, figure out how to be successful, and hasn't really held me back from of what I did in college. Yeah, sure, it's breaking some habits and getting used to some things that you do differently professionally. But at the same time, like, I didn't lose what made me really good and tried to bring that here and replicate that for this team, too.”
Avoiding the trap game, keeping their focus
Mitchell has had a tough year. When asked about the month-long Olympic break, she appreciated the mental break even more than the physical. She was close with her father and he passed away earlier in the season. And then each of their roles has changed since the arrival of Clark.
“I'm just grateful, man,” Mitchell said of the playoffs. “I'm here to do my work, be right by my team and the organization. That's obviously a really big step for us, but it's not enough. Clinching is always a good step, but it's more, it's more that we want to accomplish and it's more that we're out there to get.”
That’s absolutely the right attitude. Thrilled, but not content. And certainly not satisfied. You can’t be in this league, not when they are the main attraction (because of Clark) and are the hottest team going (because of the wins).
Mitchell isn’t a vocal leader, much more by example. But she let them know how she felt.
“The right thing is to stay focused on what's the main thing and stack it up as many days and wins as much as possible,” Mitchell said of the next two weeks. “So you set yourself up for a playoff run. Making it is one thing, but being a part of it for longevity is different.”
That led into the Fever’s 93-86 win Wednesday in front of a nearly sellout crowd (16,645). They started poorly, turned it over 11 times in the first half and trailed by one, but then they regrouped and were resilient — that’s the story of their season.
Clark rebounded the final shot attempt with 10.9 seconds left and the building became alive. Cheers roared down and it seemed like all but Mitchell was aware.
The cheers were for Clark because it became her second triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. She’s also now recorded 10 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, the WNBA’s single-season record.
Again, just 22.
And, again, all she cares about is wins anyway.
Second-year center Aliyah Boston, seated to Clark’s left, has been the vocal one. That’s another reason she excels as a basketball analyst in the WNBA offseason. She was also loud with her play Wednesday, contributing 24 points and 14 rebounds in the win.
“I feel like, especially these past two games, for me just making sure that I have a presence on the floor,” Boston said.
This is not a group that any team will want to face in the playoffs.
“Today's been an unbelievable day,” Sides said before starting a six-game homestand. “Just from where we were in the month of May to where we are now. It's just shown with our players and our staff, just the resiliency that we've had. Just continue to just do what we have to do, show up and get better, and that's what we've done.”
Added Mitchell: “Man, it's a really big moment in our locker room and organization. The aroma in the room right now is really, really high.”
The Fever were once 1-8, struggling to have team success and the outside noise was loud, particularly surrounding the coach. From the beginning, Sides’ message was to be patient, keep everything in house and to block out the noise.
A few months later, in mid-July, the Olympic break arrived and it was the best thing for this team. For camaraderie, understanding one another, getting a mental and physical break, and zeroing in on defense. That will win them more games, and it has.
The turning point for this team was right before break, losing in Dallas after a quality road win in Minnesota. That left the team with a bad taste in their mouth throughout the entire break.
Also, it’s getting comfortable with Clark given how impactful she is on the court.
“I think also once my teammates kind of got used to playing with me, it's been pretty smooth sailing and fun basketball since then,” she said.
Now 18-16, they have as many wins as they had in the last two seasons combined. And they’re rolling, 7-1 since resuming play with six more before the playoffs.
“We don't plan on changing anything,” said Sides. “It is still pedal to the metal and we just want to make sure that we're doing the things that got us here. If we would have listened to everybody else and only talked about results, being 1-8, we wouldn't have been here if it was something that really, that was important to us.
“All we kept talking about was the things that were important, which was effort, our energy, the togetherness, the toughness, and then the resiliency that really showed up. And that's why I think that's why we're here today.”
Other Notes
Clark played all 40 minutes.
Forward Temi Fagbenle is sidelined once again. This time due to a right shoulder injury, which happened at the end of their win in Dallas. She got the rebound, put it back, then “got knocked to the floor pretty good,” Sides shared. “Just being (cautious) and she's not gonna play tonight. We're just gonna make sure she's ready to go when she's 100%.”
Tyrese Haliburton sat courtside for another game with his girlfriend, Jade Jones. To his right was Connor McCaffery, who I don’t think ever sits in the same seat at games. Clark came over and hugged each of them after the win.
The Fever started a stretch of five straight games on five different networks. I know, it’s not easy to keep up with anymore. From Bally Sports Indiana to CBS Sports Network tonight. Their next three games air on ION, ESPN3 (and WTHR locally), then NBA TV.
Cheez-It brand mascot Ched-Z was at practice on Tuesday and then involved during timeout at this game.
Here’s a video they played postgame to celebrate Clark’s awards: