Caitlin Clark Celebrated by WNBA Fans After Fever Draft Star with No. 1 Overall Pick
April 15, 2024
One of the greatest college basketball players of all time is officially set to begin her journey at the professional level, as Iowa star Caitlin Clark was selected by the Indiana Fever with the No. 1 overall pick in Monday's WNBA draft.
Of course, Clark being chosen with the top pick comes as no surprise. The Fever pretty much made it clear after her announcement that she would forgo her final year of college eligibility to turn pro that they were not hesitating to draft her.
Indiana is getting an established star who is ready to make an impact as soon as she steps onto the court in the 2024 season.
Fans on social media were hyped by the impending arrival of Clark to the Fever:
Brandon Bender @brandonmbenderWe can now officially say it: Welcome to the <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFever?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianaFever</a> Caitlin Clark! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoFever?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoFever</a> <a href="https://t.co/Nek4aEq9WK">pic.twitter.com/Nek4aEq9WK</a>
WNBA @WNBAFrom Iowa ➡️ Indiana<a href="https://twitter.com/CaitlinClark22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CaitlinClark22</a> is heading to the <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFever?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianaFever</a> via the No. 1 pick!<br><br>2024 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBADraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBADraft</a> presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/StateFarm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateFarm</a> <a href="https://t.co/h9prsDaG6x">pic.twitter.com/h9prsDaG6x</a>
NBA TV @NBATVA new era in Indy has begun 🔥<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFever?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianaFever</a> select Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 pick in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBADraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBADraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/RRQy1F90Ra">pic.twitter.com/RRQy1F90Ra</a>
Wilton C. Jackson II @WiltonReportsCaitlin Clark to Holly Rowe in going to Indiana: "I'm just going to do me, have fun, smile. I've loved playing basketball since I was a little girl." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBADraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBADraft</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBA</a>
Clark is coming off an incredible senior season in which she earned her second straight Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year awards after averaging 31.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.9 assists. She passed the legendary Pete Maravich to become the NCAA's all-time leading scorer regardless of gender.
The 22-year-old is joining a Fever team that hasn't finished .500 or better or made the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons. Indiana also had the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft and chose former South Carolina star Aliyah Boston, who went on to become an All-Star and was unanimously named the league's Rookie of the Year after averaging 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while leading the league with 57.8 percent shooting from the field.
Clark's influence has already been felt, as ESPN's Stephen Holder recently reported that the Fever confirmed a "spike" in ticket interest in the weeks leading up to the draft. Indiana was second-to-last in home attendance last season with an average of 4,067 fans, so that will surely change this year.
While Clark is sure to experience some growing pains as she adjusts to the WNBA, her passion for the game and skills on the court are sure to carry her to professional stardom. The Fever are certainly hoping that she will be a franchise cornerstone who can lead the team to its first championship since 2012.