It seemed like more people were having heated debates about Caitlin Clark, college basketball’s all-time leading scorer, in the weeks and months after the Indiana Fever made her the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

The media and fans also threw Angel Reese, a fellow rookie and a rebound machine, into the mix to pit the two former college stars against one another in a Bird/Magic kind of way.

But there was no question Clark was THE most polarizing figure in the WNBA. Everyone had something to say about her–both good and bad. People from all walks of life had an agenda when it came to discussing Clark and what she meant to the sport of women’s basketball and the WNBA.

There was no doubt that Clark made an immediate difference in terms of raising the league’s profile. Attendance shot up around the WNBA, but especially at Fever home games. Television ratings quickly rose to historic levels.

Then, all the talk about Clark just sort of went away. Don’t get me wrong, people continue to talk about Clark, but she’s not nearly as hot of a topic as she was in, say, April and May. Attendance and television ratings remain healthy, but the Clark “new” factor has clearly worn off.

That’s okay, though, because the rookie is now doing what most sports phenoms do when they’re left to their own devices: She’s growing into one of the best players in her league. That’s right, 35 games into her rookie season, Clark is now the WNBA’s ninth-leading scorer with 19 points per game. She’s tied for the league lead in three-pointers per game (3.1).

Most importantly in a statistical sense, Clark is the league leader in assists per game at 8.4. I consider that the most important stat because it shows that she includes her teammates and makes them better. Clark isn’t just a chucker (to quote Jerry Seinfeld). Great basketball players don’t just score; they distribute.

But attendance, television ratings and individual stats are just part of the equation. How has Clark made a difference for the Fever in the standings?

It’s simple: She’s led them to their first playoff berth since 2016.

The Fever are 18-17 (as of this writing) and have already clinched a spot in the postseason with 15 games remaining.

To go from the worst team in the league to a playoff entrant in just one year? That’s what any basketball team–NBA or WNBA–hopes to accomplish when it drafts a generational talent.

We may all continue to argue over Caitlin Clark and her worthiness atop the WNBA 24/7 news cycle. But, number one: Without her, there would be no 24/7 WNBA news cycle. Number two: She probably isn’t paying any attention to that news cycle.

She’s too busy making her franchise better.