At Friday’s news conference following the conclusion of the Indiana Fever’s season, rookie Caitlin Clark and head coach Christie Sides condemned the racist rhetoric many WNBA players said they’ve experienced this season.

According to ESPN, viewership numbers are still up despite Clark's exit. The semifinal showdown between the two-time defending champions Las Vegas Aces and the No. 1 seed New York Liberty on Sunday amassed no less than 929,000 viewers (peaked at 1.2 million). Per ESPN, this represents the most-watched semifinal game in over two decades.

From the second Caitlin Clark declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever knew their future was bright. But even those inside the organization may not have expected just how fast the No. 1 overall pick would change their fortunes on the court.