Albert Bainbridge IVNorthJersey.com
After a near month-long break due to the All-Star Game and Paris Olympics, the WNBA is back.
One of the first games on the docket features none other than superstar Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever hosting the Phoenix Mercury on Friday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Clark was playing her best basketball prior to the layoff, recording a double-double in eight of her last 11 games. In the final game before the All-Star Break, she set a new WNBA record for most assists in a single game (19) in a 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings on July 17.
While, the 2024 No. 1 overall pick is unlikely to win MVP (Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson is -3000), Clark is currently the runaway favorite to win this year's Rookie of the Year Award, as she's as high as -2500 to take home this year's honors.
With the 2024 WNBA returning, here's Clark's remaining schedule for the 2024 regular season, the Fever's current spot in the standings, odds to win the WNBA Finals and more:
Does Caitlin Clark play vs Liberty again this WNBA season?
Unless these two teams face off in the playoffs, the New York Liberty do not have to play Clark and the Fever anymore in 2024.
The Liberty dominated this season's head-to-head matchup, winning three of four games by double digits. However, it should be noted that Clark and the Fever got the best of New York in the last meeting on July 6, with Clark posting the first-ever triple double by a rookie in WNBA history in the Fever's 83-78 upset win.
Will Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever make the 2024 WNBA playoffs?
Heading into the second half, the Fever are seventh in the WNBA standings at 11-15. While the under .500 record might seem underwhelming at first, it's a far cry from where they started. Indiana began its 2024 campaign losing 10 of its first 13 games. Since then -- thanks to the superb play of Clark and others -- the Fever ended the first half winning eight of their next 13 contests. This includes the upset victory over the Liberty, Minnesota Lynx and others.
Caitlin Clark's schedule for rest of 2024 WNBA season
Despite sitting three games ahead of the first team out of the playoffs (Atlanta Dream: 7-17), the Fever could easily make up some ground on the teams ahead of them over their final 14 games of the season.
One of the key parts to keep an eye on Clark and the Fever will be once the calendar flips to September, as six of their final eight games are on their homecourt, with all six coming consecutively from Sep 4. versus the Los Angeles Sparks to Sept. 15 versus the Dallas Wings.
Perhaps the most crucial part of those matchups will be the back-to-back contests versus the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on Sept. 11 and Sept. 13.
Their final regular-season contest will be in the nation's capital against the Washington Mystics.
Here are the remaining 14 games for Clark and the Fever in the regular season:
Aug. 16: vs. Phoenix Mercury, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 18: vs. Seattle Storm, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 24: at Minnesota Lynx, 8 p.m.
Aug 26: at Atlanta Dream, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28: vs. Connecticut Sun, 7 p.m.
Aug 30: at Chicago Sky, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: at Dallas Wings, 4 p.m.
Sept. 4: vs Los Angeles Sparks, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6: vs. Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8: vs Atlanta Dream, 4 p.m.
Sept. 11: vs. Las Vegas Aces, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13: vs Las Vegas Aces, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: vs Dallas Wings, 3 p.m.
Sept. 19: at Washington Mystics, 7 p.m.
Indiana Fever's odds to win 2024 WNBA Finals
Despite their recent success, Clark and the Fever are still a longshot to win the WNBA title this season. Heading into their game against the Mercury on Friday night, Indiana has 60/1 odds to win its first championship since 2012, when Stratford, New Jersey native and Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings led the franchise to its first title.
Similar to the standings, the Fever have six teams favored ahead of them, led by the Aces and Liberty as the two teams with the shortest odds to win it all.
Here are the odds for each WNBA team currently in a playoff position with odds via oddschecker.com:
Las Vegas Aces: +155
New York Liberty: +160
Minnesota Lynx: 8/1 (+800)
Connecticut Sun: 9/1 (+900)
Seattle Storm: 12/1 (+1200)
Phoenix Mercury: 35/1 (+3500)
Indiana Fever: 60/1 (+6000)
Chicago Sky: 150/1 (+15000)
