Caitlin Clark has become accustomed to breaking records and drawing crowds, even in her rookie year. As the Indiana Fever gear up for a crucial Game 2 against the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs on Wednesday, it’s just another high-stakes moment for the rising star.
In Game 1, the Sun handed Clark a tough welcome to the playoffs, defeating the Fever 93-69. Despite the loss, the matchup drew record-breaking viewership, averaging 1.8 million viewers and peaking at 2.2 million. According to ESPN, it became the most-watched WNBA playoff game ever on ESPN platforms and the most-viewed since the 2000 Finals.
However, Clark and the Fever are focused solely on winning Wednesday’s game in Connecticut to force a decisive Game 3 back in Indiana, giving them a chance to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2015.
“We’ve got our blinders on, and we’re locked in,” Clark told Fox News Digital ahead of tipoff when asked about the team’s mindset. Still, the former Iowa star acknowledged the growing buzz around women’s basketball.
“This is what you’d expect at this point in the season,” Clark said. “It’s been a record-breaking year for the WNBA in so many ways. The basketball has been incredible.”
“I think fans are excited about the playoffs, the matchups, the potential upsets, and all the great players involved. It’s no surprise people want to tune in and keep watching,” she added.
But Clark insists the team remains unfazed. “Whether the arena’s sold out or there are people watching on TV, we’re approaching this game like any other. It doesn’t change anything for us.”
The Fever will need that focus as they fight to avoid elimination. Clark struggled in Game 1, scoring just 11 points and missing 11 of her 13 three-point attempts, far below her season averages of 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.
“It’s about focusing on the next opportunity,” head coach Christie Sides said before the game. “This is another chance for our team to prove who we are, what we’re capable of, and that we belong here.”
Sides emphasized the importance of her top shooters. “We’ve got two great shooters in Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark, and they’re both ready to step up and show what they can do in this series.”
The Fever will need every bit of that resolve to keep their playoff hopes alive.