Caitlin Clark's next big move could be helping Indiana Fever end playoff drought

The 61-year-old former hoops player never lost touch with the sport, his home state or his beloved Hawkeyes' men's or women's teams, even after moving to Indianapolis.So with the Indiana Fever expected to draft Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick Monday night, Meinen can't hide his excitement over seeing the potential of a game-changing player suddenly making the Fever relevant again after a seven-year playoff drought.“She's Bob Cousy meets Steph Curry.

Neither had any idea back then, though, that the Fever would win a second straight draft lottery that would allow them to team up with the 2023 unanimous rookie of the year Aliyah Boston and the greatest scorer in Division I history.This young, star-studded combination suddenly makes last season's 13-win team a must-watch team, a title Indiana last held during Tamika Catchings' final season in 2016.

Clark's transformation from generational college superstar to becoming the face of a WNBA franchise has been eagerly anticipated since Clark and the Hawkeyes started selling out arenas while getting record TV ratings over the past two seasons.

She'll learn the rookie ropes from a poised point guard such as Wheeler while teaming up with Boston, forward NaLyssa Smith, the No. 2 overall pick in 2022, and shooting guard Kelsey Mitchell, the No. 2 overall pick in 2018. “I don't know if they'll make the playoffs right out of the box," Meinen said."She's going to make them better. She'll make them instantly more fun to watch. You can be really fun to watch, and it doesn't mean that your game translates into wins. But I think she's going to be really, really good. I just can't imagine that she's not going to be good.”

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