Uncasville, Connecticut – Caitlin Clark At this point in her rookie year, she's used to setting records and drawing crowds, and it will likely be business as usual when the Indiana Fever enters a must-win Game 2 against the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs on Wednesday night.
solar Indiana University spoiled Clark University's WNBA playoff debut by defeating the Fever University 93-69 in Game 1 on Sunday. Although it was a disappointment for Indiana University fans, the matchup averaged 1.8 million viewers and peaked at 2.2 million.
Di'Jonai Carrington of the Connecticut Suns plays defense during a game against the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 22, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
According to ESPN, the game was the most-watched WNBA Playoff Games It drew the highest viewership of all time across ESPN's platforms and was the league's most-watched playoff game since the 2000 WNBA Finals.
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But Clark and fever, The focus on Wednesday will be solely on winning at Connecticut and then surviving Game 3 at Indiana to have a chance to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2015.
“I think our team is committed and focused,” Clark told Fox News Digital before kickoff when asked about her team's mentality, but the former Iowa star added that the numbers say something about women's basketball as a whole.
“It's been a record-breaking year in every sense of the word for the WNBA, so I think that's to be expected at this point in the season. It's not a surprise. The basketball has been really good.”
Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark (No. 22) takes a shot during a game against the Connecticut Sun in Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 22, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
WNBA Playoffs: Caitlin Clark, Fever seek decision in Game 3 against star-studded Sun
“I think everybody was super excited about the playoffs and the matchups and the potential upsets and all the great players that are going to be on this series, so I think it's going to continue to be a show that people are going to tune in to and want to continue to watch,” she continued.
“But I don't think it will affect us one way or another. The arena will be full, some people may be watching on TV, we'll approach it just like any other game. For us, it won't change anything.”
The Fever will need to be more focused than ever to avoid elimination.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket against Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner (24) and Connecticut Sun forward Breonna Jones (42) during Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 22, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Clark was averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists entering the series, but he was limited to just 11 points and missed 11 of his 13 3-point attempts.
“We're just focused on the next opportunity,” coach Christy Said told reporters before kick-off. “This is just an opportunity for our team to come together and show who we are, what we can do and why we belong here.”
“I think we have two great shooters in Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark, and they're both ready to go and ready for their next opportunity to prove themselves in the playoffs.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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