Sue Bird names Fever, Caitlin Clark as team she would not want to face in WNBA playoffs

Sue Bird believes Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever could be a team that gives WNBA contenders some problems in the playoffs. The Fever appear to be finding their rhythm after a 2-9 start to the year, having gone 11-6 since to enter the postseason race.

If the season ended today, Indiana would be the No. 7 seed and face the Connecticut Sun in the first round. The Fever also recently notched victories against the two teams directly above them, Phoenix and Seattle, and faces a favorable schedule to close out the regular season.

That in mind, they could climb the standings even more and perhaps land the No. 6 or No. 5 seed if they continue this stretch. In a recent episode of the A Touch More podcast with her girlfriend Megan Rapinoe, Bird highlighted the fast pace of the Fever as being a matchup issue for many teams.

“What I’ve learned in my WNBA experience is pace of play trumps physicality, it trumps size, it can trump experience,” Bird said. “Because a lot of times, when you’re experienced, it’s code word for you’re old. … What I see in Caitlin, what I see in Kelsey Mitchell, they’re just ramming it down people’s throats. It’s really hard, it can have your head spinning.” 

One of the teams Sue Bird would not want to see during the WNBA playoffs ?

The Indiana Fever!

“What I’ve learned in my WNBA experience is pace of play trumps physicality, it trumps size, it can trump experience… what I see in Caitlin, what I see in Kelsey Mitchell, they’re… pic.twitter.com/ObSYwowVgk

— Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 (@VanshayM) August 21, 2024

The Fever rank fifth in the WNBA in pace of play but have begun to ramp things up as Clark has grown more comfortable in her rookie season. That has resulted in an increased number of assists for the point guard in recent games, including her season-high of 19 last month against the Dallas Wings.

Additionally, Mitchell has come back from the Olympic break on fire with 28 and 27-point outings in the two wins for Indiana since. She is averaging 17.7 points per game this season on 38.6% from 3-point range to provide another player who can heat up alongside Clark.

It’s been the quick adjustments the rookie had made this season combined with that talented support staff of Mitchell and Aliyah Boston that have Bird so high on the Fever.

“What you’re seeing is how Caitlin is able to push the ball up the floor,” she said. “She’s able to hit those get-ahead passes. So I won’t be surprised if as we start to get later into the playoff runs if we start to see teams tighten up and you’re definitely gonna see it in the playoffs. But everybody, that’s why you had to pick Caitlin up full court. The numbers she’s putting up now, this is why.”

Clark and the Fever play their next game on Saturday night against the Minnesota Lynx.