Caitlin Clark has a decision to make. Will she begin her professional career after this college basketball season or return to Iowa for a fifth and final year of eligibility?
All of the signs currently point toward the former. It seems likely that Clark will enter the WNBA Draft.
Should that happen, barring shocking unforeseen circumstances, the reigning Player of the Year will become the newest member of the Fever. Indiana won the draft lottery last week, which means that it will pick first overall for the second year in a row.
Aliyah Boston went No. 1 overall to the Fever last year and was named the Rookie of the Year. Caitlin Clark will go No. 1 overall to the Fever this year depending on her decision and has a real opportunity to be named Rookie of the Year if she continues to ball out in the WNBA like she has at Iowa.
History also shows that going pro would be very beneficial in terms of a title.
Indiana has not reached the playoffs since 2016. It won less than 10 games in five of seven years since.
The Fever won just six games in 2020 and 2021, and just five games in 2022. Boston helped get them back over the 10-win mark in 2023.
Their upward trend is set to continue after getting the No. 1 pick in back-to-back years. Especially if it is Clark, who compliments Boston’s game really well.
WNBA history says so!
Seattle picked first overall in 2001 and 2002. It chose Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird.
The Storm won their first-ever WNBA title in 2004.
Las Vegas picked first overall in 2018 and 2019. It selected A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
The Aces won their first-ever WNBA title in 2022 and ran it back in 2023.
Indiana picked first overall in 2023 and will do so again in 2024. It chose Boston and will select Clark if she is available.
That puts the Fever, which last won a WNBA title in 2012, on pace for its next championship by 2027.
Should history continue to repeat itself, it behooves Clark to go pro this year. A WNBA title might be coming sooner than later if she does!