Caitlin Clark: Fever Can Become WNBA Title Contender, Eyeing Top-4 Seed in 2025

Caitlin Clark believes the Indiana Fever will be able to recover from this week's first-round sweep by the Connecticut Sun in time to contend for the WNBA title next fall.

"Next year, we're wanting to be a top-four seed," Clark said during Friday's exit interviews (1:10 mark of the video below.) "We believe we can build this place into a championship contender.

"That's what I believe. That's why I'm going to do everything in my power to help this organization get there, but you've got to let it hurt you a little bit, and really drive you throughout the offseason."

The Fever qualified for the playoffs this season, breaking a seven-season postseason drought that had lasted since 2016, in large part thanks to the boost offered by the selection of Clark as the No. 1 pick of the 2024 WNBA draft.

Amid a second-half surge for the star rookie, the Fever came out of the midseason Olympic break to win nine of their final 14 regular-season games and end the season with a 20-20 overall record and a No. 6 overall ranking.

That allowed the Fever to rank among the eight teams that qualified for the playoffs but pitted them against a 28-12 Sun squad with home-court advantage in the first round.

Clark struggled during a 93-69 loss to the Sun in Game 1, then saw a resurgence in Wednesday's Game 2 as she helped lead a Fever comeback attempt that fell short in the 87-81 elimination loss.

With both Clark and 2023 No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston set to play in Indiana for the next several seasons, the Fever will focus on working out a new contract for pending unrestricted free agent Kelsey Mitchell.

If all three players return next season, Clark is setting her hopes higher than just another playoff qualification.

Finishing top-four in the league in 2025 would allow the Fever to open their next postseason series at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the team has enjoyed the highest attendance in the league during the 2024 season. After Clark's unanimous selection as the AP Rookie of the Year, the Fever will hope to see their 17,000-strong home crowd return as the team seeks another playoff berth in 2025.