The Indiana Fever had not tasted the WNBA playoffs since 2016, the longest streak in league history. This first-round duel against the Connecticut Sun is therefore an event for the franchise of Caitlin Clark.
It is also a duel between an experienced team, with eight consecutive participations in the postseason and two lost Finals, which has 222 playoff games in total in its squad, and a young group, which has only 19.
“We can't be too tense. It won't allow us to play well.” explains the superstar rookie. “I think what allowed us to succeed in the second half of the season was the fun and energy with which we played, in a light atmosphere. It's great to see everyone in that state of mind. At the same time, everyone approaches it like the playoffs. It's very important for each member of the team.”
Being aware of the stakes without being overwhelmed by them is the dilemma for Caitlin Clark and her teammates.
A young group that progressed quickly
“It's when you tense up that things can go wrong.” confirms Aliyah Boston. “For us, it’s just about continuing to be who we are, having fun. That’s one of the biggest things we tell ourselves, especially before every game, is to have fun, to continue to play together. Even now, when we’ve done the analysis of the opponents, we know exactly what our game plan is, and it’s just about making sure we continue to stay relaxed on the field.”
On the Connecticut side, we are in any case wary of this young team which has progressed over the course of the campaign, and whose offensive madness (3rd attack, 11th defense) can derail its opponents.
“We knew they were going to improve”explains Connecticut coach Stephanie White. “We knew they were going to get better at reading the game. We knew they had all the pieces they needed to do it. Not only did their core and their superstars step up and get better, but everyone around them did too. It’s like they settled into their roles, understood what was expected of them and learned how to shine in those roles.”
The first game of this best-of-three series is tonight at 7:00 p.m. (French time) in Connecticut.
