There are very few athletes in the NBA or WNBA right now who command attention quite like Caitlin Clark. Whether she’s preparing for the upcoming season with the Indiana Fever or talking hoops during the NBA playoffs, fans want to know what the former Iowa Hawkeyes star is watching and who she believes can win it all.
And after a dramatic start to the NBA postseason, Clark sounds like she may already be backing away from her original championship prediction.
In a Q&A interview with Athlon Sports’ Kyle Wood, Clark talked about the NBA playoffs, the teams she has been watching most closely, and why one playoff upset may have changed her thinking entirely.
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Caitlin Clark Admits Timberwolves Changed Her Thinking
Clark revealed that she initially believed the San Antonio Spurs would win the NBA title this season.
“For this year? Oh, boy. Well, you know, I thought the Spurs were gonna win it all,” Clark said. “That was my pick. That’s what I’ve been telling everybody, but I don’t know, I might be rethinking after the Timberwolves stole Game 1.”
That comment immediately stood out, considering how much momentum the Minnesota Timberwolves have built during the playoffs. Minnesota’s Game 1 win changed the tone of that Western Conference series, and Clark clearly took notice.
She also acknowledged that the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the popular choice across the league.
“Obviously, OKC would be the easy pick. I’m sure everybody’s saying that,” Clark added.
Still, Clark made it clear she believes the eventual NBA champion will come out of the Western Conference.
Clark Still Locked into Every NBA Playoff Game
Even while gearing up for another highly anticipated Fever season, Clark said she has remained fully invested in the NBA playoffs.
“I think whoever comes out of the West will win it all,” Clark said. “So, I’m hoping for a Spurs-OKC Western Conference finals.”
Clark also mentioned the New York Knicks as a possible Eastern Conference representative while admitting she was disappointed to see the Boston Celtics eliminated.
Part of that disappointment came from her connection to former Iowa teammate Luka Garza.
“There’s a former Hawkeye on the team, who was one of my good friends,” Clark said.
But Clark emphasized how much she simply enjoys this time of year for basketball fans.
“But more than anything, I just hope they’re good series. That’s what makes it so fun. And this is one of the best times of the year. There’s an NBA playoff game on every single night. So, I’m always tuned in and watching.”
That basketball obsession became part of Clark’s identity long before she entered the WNBA. It is also one reason Fever fans continue to connect with her. Even as one of the biggest stars in women’s basketball, Clark still sounds like someone enjoying the sport the same way fans do every spring.
With Indiana’s regular-season opener against the Dallas Wings on Saturday, Clark appears healthy and fully engaged heading into what she hopes is a massive third WNBA season. But as the NBA playoffs continue to play out, one thing is already clear: her championship prediction might not be as settled as it once was.
