Caitlin Clark (Image Credits: Getty Images)
Caitlin Clark, the standout player for the Indiana Fever, was highly anticipated before the 2024 WNBA draft. The 22-year-old point guard started breaking records and achieving milestones after her debut in the WNBA.
However, despite Clark’s significant contributions to the game, she was not well rewarded. The WNBA announced their MVP for the 2024 season, and the former Iowa star came in 4th place.
According to the recent Clark Report post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Clark received 6 third-place votes, 26 fourth-place votes, and 22 fifth-place votes. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was selected as the unanimous MVP.
After learning about Clark’s position in the WNBA MVP race, basketball fans were devastated and began expressing their disappointment in the comment section of the post on X.
Clark, who was recently criticized by Sheryl Swoopes, demonstrated outstanding skills on the WNBA court during the regular season. Due to her dedication to the sport, she set league single-season and single-game records in assists, the rookie scoring record, and became the first rookie to achieve a triple-double.
Clark, who helped popularize women’s basketball, led the Fever to their best record and first playoff appearance since 2016.
Caitlin Clark Shares Her Mindset Ahead of WNBA Playoffs
Clark, known for her 3-point shooting skills, had an impressive debut season, delivering several dominating performances. She scored a career-high 35 points in a 110–109 win over the Dallas Wings.
The 22-year-old star finished the regular season averaging 19.2 points, a league-high 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. However, playing for the first time in the WNBA playoffs could be challenging for Clark as she recently opened up about the pressure she is facing.
“I don’t know if it’ll help. We’ve played in a lot of big games with eyes on us all year long … you can’t put too much pressure on yourself. That’s not going to allow you to perform your best … our mood has been really great. Everybody knows what’s on the line. But at the same time, like this is basketball. Go out there and play like we’ve been playing all year long.” Clark said.
Clark will play her first WNBA playoff game against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday in the round 1 series, and it will be fascinating to watch.