***Official Caitlin/Fever/Kate/Meg Games Mega Thread***

[Herky T Hawk]

Seriously. How lucky were the Indiana Fever to be the worst team in the W last year. With the number one pick they got a generational talent. A rising tide does lift all ships. CC is making those around her so much better. The Fever struck gold.

If you look at the history of #1 overall picks, it seems that every few years a transformative pick comes along. Transformative in the sense of what they do for their team earning titles and MVPs.

Going backwards you’ve got:
Clark 2024
Ionescu 2020 -maybe not yet, but possibly in her future.
Wilson 2018
Stewart 2016
Ogwumike 2012
Moore 2011
Parker 2008
Taurasi 2004

Almost every other #1 since 2008 also panned out as a good/great player.

But none of them transformed the whole league. The Fever could probably raise ticket prices 20-40% next year and still sell most of them without batting an eye. That is insane

 

[Bro D]

 

[MitchLL]

I still marvel every time I hear her in front of a microphone.

Communication skills almost unmatched and almost always the "team angle".
If mgmt can get that "missing piece" in the off season, look out.

 

[MplsHawk]

I still marvel every time I hear her in front of a microphone.

Communication skills almost unmatched and almost always the "team angle".
If mgmt can get that "missing piece" in the off season, look out.

She is super polished in front of a microphone. I wonder how they select which players do the post game press conference? I don't think Caitlin has ever not been one of the players, but the others changes. I'd like to see more Aliyah Boston too, as she is well spoken and does a great job.

 

[Bro D]

She is super polished in front of a microphone. I wonder how they select which players do the post game press conference? I don't think Caitlin has ever not been one of the players, but the others changes. I'd like to see more Aliyah Boston too, as she is well spoken and does a great job.

I love when CC and AB are in the same press conference. They have great chemistry and are pretty funny together. I think KM has gotten a lot better and more comfortable with the newfound attention too

 

[JimStarr777]

I love when CC and AB are in the same press conference. They have great chemistry and are pretty funny together. I think KM has gotten a lot better and more comfortable with the newfound attention too

KM deserves A LOT of praise for buying into this whole thing! I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical of her for a good portion of the early season, but she’s just gotten better and better. And it’s not always easy for limelight pure scorers to deal with another player getting the primary focus and attention. Really hope we’re able to keep her next year.

 

[Tenacious E]

KM deserves A LOT of praise for buying into this whole thing! I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical of her for a good portion of the early season, but she’s just gotten better and better. And it’s not always easy for limelight pure scorers to deal with another player getting the primary focus and attention. Really hope we’re able to keep her next year.

She is a first class scorer, and very quick on defense. It seems like she has 80% bought in, but can’t stop herself from playing hero ball sometimes. She’s looked off an open Caitlin and just taken it to the racks. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Then also, sometimes we need a hero.

 

[Franisdaman]

Seriously. How lucky were the Indiana Fever to be the worst team in the W last year. With the number one pick they got a generational talent. A rising tide does lift all ships. CC is making those around her so much better. The Fever struck gold.

Actually, the Fever were not the worst team last year. The Fever did, however, win the WNBA Draft Lottery, to the dismay of Phoenix and Seattle (the 2 worst teams in 2023).

Phoenix, with a 9-31 record in 2023, had the 2nd best chance (28%) at winning the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery; the Fever had the best odds (44%). The others: Los Angeles (18%) and Seattle (10%).

Caitlin Clark in sight as Mercury hope to win WNBA Draft Lottery

Caitlin Clark would be a welcome addition to the Phoenix Mercury if she departs Iowa and enters the 2024 WNBA Draft.

arizonasports.com

2023 WNBA Standings:

Team	W	L	W/L%	GB
Las Vegas Aces*	34	6	.850	—
New York Liberty*	32	8	.800	2.0
Connecticut Sun*	27	13	.675	7.0
Dallas Wings*	22	18	.550	12.0
Atlanta Dream*	19	21	.475	15.0
Minnesota Lynx*	19	21	.475	15.0
Washington Mystics*	19	21	.475	15.0
Chicago Sky*	18	22	.450	16.0
Los Angeles Sparks	17	23	.425	17.0
Indiana Fever	13	27	.325	21.0
Seattle Storm	11	29	.275	23.0
Phoenix Mercury	9	31	.225	25.0

 

[Franisdaman]

KM deserves A LOT of praise for buying into this whole thing! I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical of her for a good portion of the early season, but she’s just gotten better and better. And it’s not always easy for limelight pure scorers to deal with another player getting the primary focus and attention. Really hope we’re able to keep her next year.

Kelsey's always been a good pro, imo, and it took time for her (for everyone!) to gel as a TEAM.

The Fever can "core" her, if needed, to keep her for the next 2 years.

Kelsey's numbers:

2022: 18.4 points, 4.2 assists
2023: 18.2 points, 3.1 assists
2024: 18.5 points, 1.9 assists

Kelsey was a big time scorer in college, too.

Current NCAA Scoring List:

PLAYER	TEAM	LAST SEASON	GAMES PLAYED	POINTS
Caitlin Clark	IOWA	2024	139 (28.424 ppg)	3,951
Kelsey Plum	Washington	2017	139 (25.4 ppg)	3,527
Dyaisha Fair	Syracuse	2024	153 (22.2 ppg)	3,403
Kelsey Mitchell	Ohio State	2018	139 (24.475 ppg)	3,402

 

[Franisdaman]

3:00 pm CT Tip.

College Park Center on the University of Texas at Arlington campus in Arlington, Texas, seats up to only 7,000 spectators.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Tenacious E]

Actually, the Fever were not the worst team last year. The Fever did, however, win the WNBA Draft Lottery, to the dismay of Phoenix and Seattle (the 2 worst teams).

2023 Standings:

Team	W	L	W/L%	GB
Las Vegas Aces*	34	6	.850	—
New York Liberty*	32	8	.800	2.0
Connecticut Sun*	27	13	.675	7.0
Dallas Wings*	22	18	.550	12.0
Atlanta Dream*	19	21	.475	15.0
Minnesota Lynx*	19	21	.475	15.0
Washington Mystics*	19	21	.475	15.0
Chicago Sky*	18	22	.450	16.0
Los Angeles Sparks	17	23	.425	17.0
Indiana Fever	13	27	.325	21.0
Seattle Storm	11	29	.275	23.0
Phoenix Mercury	9	31	.225	25.0

And it goes by the aggregate record over the past two years. Odd system but it dissuades tanking.

 

[retrodent]

This is fair. But you could say the same for Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace and Reggie Evans too. Just because someone isn't well rounded doesn't mean they can't be a great player.

She is relentless on the boards! So props for that

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[LOTOlion]

Actually, the Fever were not the worst team last year. The Fever did, however, win the WNBA Draft Lottery, to the dismay of Phoenix and Seattle (the 2 worst teams in 2023).

Phoenix, with a 9-31 record in 2023, had the 2nd best chance (28%) at winning the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery; the Fever had the best odds (44%). The others: Los Angeles (18%) and Seattle (10%).

Caitlin Clark in sight as Mercury hope to win WNBA Draft Lottery

Caitlin Clark would be a welcome addition to the Phoenix Mercury if she departs Iowa and enters the 2024 WNBA Draft.

arizonasports.com

2023 WNBA Standings:

Team	W	L	W/L%	GB
Las Vegas Aces*	34	6	.850	—
New York Liberty*	32	8	.800	2.0
Connecticut Sun*	27	13	.675	7.0
Dallas Wings*	22	18	.550	12.0
Atlanta Dream*	19	21	.475	15.0
Minnesota Lynx*	19	21	.475	15.0
Washington Mystics*	19	21	.475	15.0
Chicago Sky*	18	22	.450	16.0
Los Angeles Sparks	17	23	.425	17.0
Indiana Fever	13	27	.325	21.0
Seattle Storm	11	29	.275	23.0
Phoenix Mercury	9	31	.225	25.0

As always, excellent work. I stand corrected.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

Patiently waiting for the Lexi Hull fit check tonight

 

[2D_]

Irritates me that the Wings, a bad team, have got the best of the Fever twice already. Hope we spank them today.

 

[Franisdaman]

No Swoopes today.

The Wings official website now lists Ron Thulin and Naismith Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman as the play-by-play and color commentators and ShaVonne Herndon as the sideline reporter.

 

[spiderland]

View embedded media

This concerns me a bit. Hope it doesn’t take a little edge off CC’s game.

 

[2D_]

WOAH Clark down court to Mitchell and an amazing pass to Smith!

 

[Franisdaman]

Kelsey with the sweet pull up J

she has 4 of the Fever's 8 points

 

[Hawksfor3]

Go Feve!!

 

[Franisdaman]

Arike....damn!

 

[2D_]

Clark's shot is off so far.

 

[Franisdaman]

CC with a beautiful pass

Kelsey blows the layup

 

[hawkeye_wx]

It's unreal how many layups get missed off of Clark passes.

 

[Franisdaman]

Clark's shot is off so far.

3 point shooting:

0-3: Caitlin
0-1: Rest of team

 

[Franisdaman]

sell out crowd of 7,000

 

[2D_]

Dallas has one person on CC at all times regardless of what's happening. Why can't we do that for Areke?

 

[Hawksfor3]

Minny leading Sky 47-40 in 3rd.

 

[hawkeye_wx]

9-0 run for Dallas

 

[Franisdaman]

CC for 333333333333

 

[WDSMHAWK]

Ffs put Lexie on Arike

 

[2D_]

So are we going to adjust to Areke?

 

[Chuck C]

How about we try to guard Arike on the perimeter

 

[hawkeye_wx]

Great. Arike on fire is just what the Fever needed.