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    • Indiana Fever secures first WNBA playoff berth since 2016
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    Indiana Fever secures first WNBA playoff berth since 2016

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    INDIANAPOLIS — It’s official: The Indiana Fever’s playoff drought has ended after seven seasons.

    The Fever officially clinched a playoff spot when Chicago lost to Las Vegas and Atlanta lost to Phoenix late Tuesday night. Even if Indiana were to lose each of its final seven games, it would still be in the playoffs.

    This is the first time the Fever have clinched a playoff spot since 2016. Their seven seasons outside the playoffs was the longest active drought in the WNBA and tied the longest drought of all time (the Chicago Sky missed the playoffs seven straight seasons from 2006 to 2013).

    The Fever clinched a spot with seven games left in the season — a stark contrast to previous seasons, when they were eliminated with as many (or more) games left. Indiana came close to making the playoffs last year, but they were eliminated with five games left in the season.

    This is Indiana’s first playoff berth since Tamika Catchings, Indiana’s franchise player from 2002-16, retired. And it’s fitting that it comes in the first season the Fever potentially has a new franchise player in rookie Caitlin Clark.

    Clark, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Fever in April after winning back-to-back National Player of the Year awards, joined the Fever with 2023 No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston, 2022 No. 2 pick NaLyssa Smith and 2018 No. 2 pick Kelsey Mitchell. Indiana had some growing pains, typical for a young team with a new point guard. The grueling schedule didn’t help, as the Fever played 11 games in 19 days to open the season; they started 2-9.

    The Fever have gone 15-7 since that opening series and have at least one win over 10 of their 11 regular season opponents, including the New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx. The only team the Fever have yet to beat this season are the Las Vegas Aces; they come to Indianapolis for a back-to-back on Sept. 11-13.

    Clark has put up incredible numbers in her rookie season, averaging 18.7 points, 8.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. She recorded the first rookie triple-double in WNBA history earlier this season and currently leads the league in assists per game. She has already broken the rookie assist record and is on pace to break the single-season assist record set last season by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun.

    Clark is unique in her ability to combine her playmaking and scoring — her 18.7 points per game are second on the Fever (behind Mitchell) and ninth in the league. She has the most single-season double-doubles by a guard in WNBA history, and they all came with points and assists.

    Mitchell, a seven-year veteran, has also had some of the best basketball games of her career this season. She’s on an active streak of seven straight 20+ point games, which has shattered a Fever franchise record. Her speed on the court has paired well with Clark’s intricate passing to create a nearly unstoppable backcourt duo.

    Led by Mitchell and Clark, the Fever have gone 6-1 since the Olympic break. Indiana is currently 17-16 — the first time it has been above .500 since 2019.

    The Fever are No. 6 in the WNBA standings. If the season ended today, the Fever and the No. 3 Minnesota Lynx would play a best-of-3 series.

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