In a matter of months, Caitlin Clark will start her career in the WNBA. Selected first-overall by the Indiana Fever, how immediate will her impact be?
Well, she's already making one and her preseason debut in-front of a sold-out crowd is proof.
caitlin clark already impacting WNBA's Indiana Fever
Aside from the usual WNBA Championship odds, where Indiana carries +2500 odds, futures bets for the women's league have been next to impossible to find.
Not anymore.
You can now bet on win totals and playoff chances for the Indiana Fever.
indiana fever win total Odds with caitlin clark
Odds as of May 8, 2024
Indiana managed 13 wins last year, burying the group at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with no postseason in sight.
But, the Fever is going to spike this season.
The current roster is already promising. South Carolina's Aliyah Boston cruised to Rookie Of The Year, Kelsey Mitchell's 18.2 PPG sat in the league's top 10 and NaLyssa Smith's 9.2 rebounds ranked fourth (barely behind the Breanna Stewart).
Now, imagine Clark in that lineup.
Not only can her ability shine on its own. But, she'll be a much-needed support and addition to this Indiana group.
where caitlin clark will fit in with indiana fever
Mitchell's 2.5 three-pointers is already fourth-best in the nation. Clark has been shooting 5.2 3PG. Those two sharing space beyond the arc creates plenty of space to dodge defensive coverage and doubles opportunity to get three-points on the board.
Boston and Clark spent basically their whole collegiate careers facing each other. Boston knows how the senior operates and visualizes the court, making her a step ahead in adjustment. There's already a connection brewing as two of college basketball's modern-day stars are about to play side-by-side.
Then, there's NaLyssa Smith, who is already a rebounding machine. Chances of attacking the glass will never be more available than alongside Clark — Smith will be the rookie's new Hannah Stuelke on the court.
will caitlin clark help the indiana fever make the wNBA Playoffs?
Short answer — why the heck not?
Having not seen the postseason since 2016, the Fever are -240 favorites to make the playoffs this season.
Odds as of May 8, 2024
Based on all the helicopter coverage of Clark recently, she clearly gives off a stone-cold vibe when it comes to nerves.
As a freshman, the Iowa native was already averaging 26.6 PPG. To put that into perspective, the second-highest WNCAAB average this season was Juju Watkins 27.1 PPG. Which is no discredit to Watkins, who is clearly going to flourish to become a generational name.
I really reject the idea that Clark is going to travel through any type of adjustment period. She dropped 21 points and three rebounds across 28 minutes in her first preseason performance. Its natural skill and talent. Clark is going to take the WNBA by storm and Indiana is going to be an instant threat.