Former WNBA champion Lauren Jackson has made a bold admission about Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever ahead of the playoffs, backing them to go all the way this season.
Speaking on Sue Bird’s Bird’s Eye View podcast, Jackson was asked who she wanted to see win the WNBA championship and did not hesitate with her answer.
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“I actually want Indiana to win, believe it or not,” Jackson said.
Jackson then explained why she has become such a big supporter of the Fever, highlighting both Clark and Kelsey Mitchell while also mentioning Indiana assistant coach Tully Bevilaqua.
“I’ve said this before: I love watching Caitlin Clark. I love the way that she plays. When she gets hot, she is just, it’s epically awesome to watch. I love Kelsey Mitchell. I love the way that she plays. And so, yeah, and [assistant coach] Tully [Bevilaqua]’s an assistant coach there, so of course I’m like, Oh, Indiana.”
Jackson’s comments come after an impressive stretch from Indiana before the league paused for the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
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The Fever had won seven of their previous nine games, with Clark and Mitchell producing some of their best basketball of the season. Clark was averaging 25.4 points and 9.4 assists during that run, while Mitchell was putting up 28.1 points per game and shooting 50.8 per cent from three.
Clark had also produced 37 points and 10 assists against the Chicago Sky before following that with 34 points and 12 assists against Connecticut. Mitchell scored 30 against Chicago before matching Clark’s 34-point haul against the Sun.
Sue Bird has previously praised Indiana’s style, too. She highlighted the Fever’s pace and singled out Clark, Mitchell and Aliyah Boston as players to watch.
The timing is notable given the attention surrounding Clark during Team USA’s World Cup campaign. She has remained on the bench despite producing 8.5 points and seven assists per game, while head coach Kara Lawson has continued with her veteran starting five.
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Former Indiana coach Dan Dakich dismissed the debate over Clark’s role, saying, “As long as you win, who cares who you start? It don’t matter to me.”
Indiana now has to turn its strong regular-season form into a deep playoff run, with Jackson clearly hoping Clark and the Fever can finish the job.
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