The Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark are proving themselves a formidable force as the WNBA postseason approaches. After a hard-fought 93-86 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night, the Fever have extended their post-Olympic break record to an impressive 7-1. With their recent form, the Fever (18-16) are shaping up to be a serious contender heading into the playoffs.
The matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was particularly historic for rookie phenom Caitlin Clark, who continues to etch her name in WNBA history. Clark, who became the first rookie ever to record a triple-double in July, achieved the remarkable feat once again, putting up 24 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds against the Sparks. This marked her second career triple-double, further cementing her status as a rising star in the league.
Although Clark is usually humble about her personal accomplishments, her excitement was evident when it came to something outside of basketball—the start of the 2024 NFL season. The Fever have a one-night break before facing the Minnesota Lynx on September 6, and the timing couldn’t have been better for Clark, who is a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan.
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Despite having grown up admiring Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning during his time with the Indianapolis Colts, Clark’s heart now belongs to the Chiefs. As the team prepares to take on the Baltimore Ravens in their season opener on Thursday Night Football, Clark couldn’t hold back her enthusiasm. She shared a Chiefs game day graphic on social media ahead of the Week 1 showdown, accompanied by the excited caption, “HUGE DAY!!!!!!!!!!”
When she’s not on the basketball court, Clark can often be found watching sports, particularly football. Just months before leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to their second consecutive NCAA championship game and being selected as the WNBA’s No. 1 overall pick, Clark spent Christmas Day cheering on the Chiefs during their game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium.
Though she’s a dedicated Chiefs fan, Clark still hasn’t had the chance to meet one of the team’s most famous supporters—Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. When asked if she had crossed paths with the pop icon, Clark laughed and said, “She’s a couple of tiers above my level.”
Clark’s admiration for the Chiefs is mutual. Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a big fan of Clark’s game and has spoken highly of her talents. “She’s one of the best college basketball players to ever play,” Mahomes said before the Chiefs went on to win their second consecutive Super Bowl last season. “(She will) go to the WNBA and dominate there, as well. Hopefully, I never have to play her 1-on-1 because she’ll for sure be getting buckets on me.”
With both basketball and football seasons in full swing, Clark is showing her dominance on the court while also cheering on her favorite NFL team. As she prepares for the next Fever game, all eyes will be on her and the Chiefs as they kick off their Super Bowl defense.
