Caitlin Clark helps Fever end eight-year playoff drought

The "Caitlin Clark effect" isn't being felt with just a spike in attendance, television ratings and the overall interest level in women's basketball. It is also impacting winning.

On Tuesday, the Fever officially clinched a berth in the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2016, ending the longest active playoff drought in league history. The remarkable turnaround comes just a year after they finished with a 13-27 record to miss the postseason for a seventh consecutive year.

While Clark's Fever didn't take the court on Tuesday, they benefited from losses suffered by the Sky and Dream in other games. Those losses meant the Fever (17-16) climbed to sixth place in the playoff standings, behind the Liberty (27-6), Sun (24-9), Lynx (24-9), Aces (21-12) and Storm (20-13).

Amazing turnaround

It's worth pointing out that things weren't as hunky-dory for Clark and the Fever at the start of the season. The Iowa alum struggled to impact winning right out of the gate, with the Fever suffering five losses to begin the season in May. By the 10-game mark, they were 2-8 and seemed destined to miss the playoffs again.

By the third of June, though, the Fever began to find their mojo as they knocked off five wins in a six-game stretch at a time when Clark's backcourt mate, Kelsey Mitchell, picked up her aggression.

Then, the Paris Olympics-induced break worked more wonders for Clark and Co. Since the WNBA season resumed , the Fever have maintained a record of 7-1, which would rank the best in the league.

During that eight-game stretch, Clark is averaging an incredible 24.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 10.3 assists while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three. The stellar run earned her back-to-back Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors.

Clark's recent stretch has also sparked some chatter about her winning the MVP as a rookie. While it's unlikely a player from the sixth seed will win the award, Clark has announced herself as a surefire future MVP. If she keeps with her current exploits, there's no limit to what she can achieve.