‘Better without Caitlin Clark’ – Indiana Fever pull off miraculous win as fans question Clark’s value
Who needs Caitlin Clark?
That’s what some fans are asking as the Indiana Fever pulled off an enormous upset over the Atlanta Dream 87-85 to advance to the semifinals.
Down 85-80 with 2:32 left, the Fever held the Dream scoreless the rest of the way as Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull made clutch baskets, before Aliyah Boston scored the go-ahead bucket with 7.4 seconds remaining to eliminate the third-seeded Dream in a winner-take-all Game 3.
Clark watched from the bench as her team advanced, after her season ended weeks ago due to a right groin injury.
Is Indiana better without Clark? Unequivocally no. The Fever need her just as much as the WNBA does. Yet that didn’t stop fans from asking the question.
After the Fever advanced, fans took to the internet to question—and troll—Caitlin Clark’s actual value to her team.
“Wow, turns out the Indiana Fever are, in fact, better without Caitlin Clark. Interesting,” a fan posted on X.
“Indiana Fever making the semi-finals without Caitlin Clark is another example that she is not the best player on that team,” another added.
“They are saying Indiana Fever are better without Caitlin Clark,” one more chimed in.
The Clark-less Fever dropped Game 1 of the series before taking the next two, Game 2 at home and Game 3 on the road.
This is the Fever’s first trip to the semifinals since 2015, the last time they won a postseason series.
Can Caitlin Clark return to the playoffs?
Although the Fever have advanced—potentially giving Clark more time to recover—she will not be eligible to return this season.
Clark was not included on the active roster that teams were required to submit for the postseason, so even if the Fever had advanced to the second round, Clark would be ineligible to return.
Only players listed on those rosters are eligible to participate in the postseason.
Clark’s sophomore season was plagued by injuries, limiting her to just 13 games before it was ultimately cut short by a right-groin injury.
She averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds in her limited appearances.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year and All-WNBA First Team selection also dealt with injuries to her left quad, left groin, and left ankle.
As all eyes will be on Clark’s much-anticipated return in Year 3, the Fever aren’t quite done with this year just yet.
