Caitlin Clark's next big move could be helping Indiana Fever end 7-year playoff drought

John Meinen has been an avid Iowa basketball fan for decades.

The 61-year-old former hoops player never lost touch with the sport, his home state or his beloved Hawkeyes' men's or women's teams, even after moving to Indianapolis.

So with the Indiana Fever expected to draft Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick Monday night, Meinen can't hide his excitement over seeing the potential of a game-changing player suddenly making the Fever relevant again after a seven-year playoff drought.

He's not alone.

Fever guard Erica Wheeler told social media fans Clark was the real deal after attending one Iowa game in February 2023. Another Fever guard, Grace Berger, already knows Clark's scouting report after chasing her around Big Ten courts for three seasons.

Neither had any idea back then, though, that the Fever would win a second straight draft lottery that would allow them to team up with the 2023 unanimous rookie of the year Aliyah Boston and the greatest scorer in Division I history.

This young, star-studded combination suddenly makes last season's 13-win team a must-watch team, a title Indiana last held during Tamika Catchings' final season in 2016.

So fans in Indianapolis and around the Hoosier State are focused on how quickly Indiana can rise in the standings and become a legitimate contender.

"I think she's in the right situation here," Meinen said. "Indiana is all about basketball, they're going to embrace her. They have a good young core. I think the future's very, very bright for this team."

WATCH | Clark's stardom leads to record NCAA viewership:

Clark's transformation from generational college superstar to becoming the face of a WNBA franchise has been eagerly anticipated since Clark and the Hawkeyes started