Caitlin Clark reflects on being in MVP conversation: “It’s definitely cool”

Caitlin Clark has been on a tear since the Olympic break, averaging 24.3 points per game on 43.6% shooting along with a league-best 8.9 assists. Her play has been a big part of why the Fever have climbed to the #6 seed, and has put in position to receive MVP votes.

Ahead of the Indiana Fever’s final regular season game, Clark was asked about what it’s like to know that media members who cover the WNBA believe that she’s one of the top five candidates for the MVP award (members submit five picks for MVP, in order from #1 to #5. A’ja Wilson is considered the heavy favorite for the award, but Clark has appeared on numerous shared ballots for First Team All-WNBA, including ESPN’s and The Athletic’s.

“It’s definitely cool, especially where I started the year and then was able to kind of figure it out as we go,” Clark told reporters, per Chloe Peterson of Indy Star Sports. “And now, entering Game 40, it feels night and day from where I started. I’m proud of myself in that regard. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve had to learn without really much time to practice or have an offseason to implement things that I want to implement, and having to learn a new scheme and new teammates and new coaches.”

The Fever have been the league’s third-best team since the Olympic break, accruing a 9-4 record. Clark credits her ability to play her game and the team’s increasing familiarity for the midseason turnaround.

“Once we kind of found our groove, my teammates have allowed me to be myself, and that’s what’s kind of brought up some success,” she said.

There’s been an enormous amount of discourse around Caitlin Clark’s popularity, the Rookie of the Year race, and the MVP conversation — but Clark said she’s managed to keep her focus on the game itself.

“One of the biggest things for myself is I’ve tried to keep basketball the main thing, and just to enjoy it and play fun and play and have fun, play free,” Clark said. “That’s when I’m really at my best. But at the same time, you don’t get caught up in all of that. That kind of just comes with how you perform on the floor. So, it’s definitely a cool honor people that have been in the basketball world of the WNBA space for a really long time to think of you in that way. But at the same time, I feel like there is just so much room for me to improve.”

The Fever began the season with a 1-8 record, but Clark said they never lost faith that they could turn things around.

“Our energy, it never was flat,” Clark said. “We came in and we got better and we knew that the tide was going to turn for us, and it certainly did.”

Regardless of what happens in the first round of the playoffs, this season will largely be considered a success for the Fever, who went from the #10 seed in 2023 to the #6 seed in 2024. Clark has exceeded expectations, Aliyah Boston has made strides across the board, and Kelsey Mitchell is having a career year. The Fever will face either the Connecticut Sun or Indiana Fever in the first round, in a best-of-three series that will begin Sunday.

“Obviously we have big goals in the playoffs,” Clark said. “I still feel like there’s a lot more for us that we can can achieve, and still exceed some expectations that people have for us.”