The Hall of Famer compares Caitlin Clark's Indiana to the OKC Thunder

The Indiana Fever is taking the WNBA by storm. Led by phenom rookie Caitlin Clark, the team officially skyrocketed toward contention as the league's hottest team. From beginning the 2024 season with a horrific 1-8 record, the Fever are now turning the heads of everyone with a scintillating four-game win skid. And with a current record of 17-16, they finally snapped the league history's longest postseason drought by making it to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Fever's instant turnaround is beyond remarkable and fascinating, which reminded Nancy Lieberman of something similar on the other side of the fence of women's basketball.

Lieberman compares Fever to OKC

Prior to the Fever's 100-93 victory against the Dallas Wings on Sunday, Lieberman echoed an enticing remark around the team's sizzling rally and late season push. In the eyes of the legendary Hall of Famer, Indiana's ongoing success and promising standing draws similarities to what the Oklahoma City Thunder have savoured from last season.

"I believe they're going to win a championship somewhere in the near future," Leiberman said of the Fever as she served as one of the commentators for the match’s coverage of Bally Sports Southwest (h/t Thunder Wire’s Clemente Almanza). "They're young, they're the second-youngest team in the WNBA. They remind me a little bit of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are the second-youngest team in the NBA.”

Cut from the same cloth

Once the offseason hits the calendar for the WNBA, Lieberman shifts herself to the NBA by being an analyst of OKC’s local broadcast team. She's been fulfilling this role and has watched each of the team's games since 2021. That said, her Fever-Thunder argument couldn't be more valid.

Beyond the age category, there are other considerable factors that make the comparison agreeable. Like Indiana, Oklahoma City endured a significant stretch of residing in the league's lower echelon for the past couple of years. It was only this past 2023-24 campaign they finally delivered a breakthrough run, captivating the entire league by recording a Conference-best 57 wins and making it as deep as the West Semis.

In terms of leadership, the Thunder are seeing a case related to what the Fever has with Clark as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is taking charge of OKC. Both superstars are sensational guards who have their respective two complementary stars: SGA, with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren at his side while Caitlin rallies around with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.

As the wait continues for the OKC fanbase in approaching the 2024-25 season to begin, they might find it worthwhile to follow Clark and Fever temporarily as this promising WNBA team bears striking resemblance to Shai and Co.

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