The Caitlin Clark phenomenon isn’t slowing down…it’s growing.

When Caitlin Clark learned she wouldn’t be on the U.S. women’s national team for the Paris Olympics, she texted her Indiana Fever coach, Christie Sides.

“They woke up a monster,” Clark wrote, according to Sides.

In doing so, they She also gave this monster a seemingly much-needed rest — a month-long break to recharge and refocus that has a chance to change the dynamic of the rest of the WNBA season.

Clark is a different — and much better — player today than she was in May, when she joined the WNBA almost directly after a long season at Iowa. Part of that is adjusting to the professional game. It’s also learning to play with her teammates — and her teammates learning to play with her.

And some of that, at least these last two games where she’s played her best professional basketball so far, might finally have a chance to expire.

What lies ahead is uncharted territory. Last week’s Clark is one of the best players in the WNBA, not just a promising rookie finding her feet. Can she maintain her level? Or even improve upon it?

The Fever, who are 12-7 since starting 1-8, are well positioned to make the playoffs. They will play Saturday in a key game against a potential playoff opponent, Minnesota, coached by Cheryl Reeve, who also led the U.S. women’s team to the Olympics.

Indiana continues to draw a huge number of viewers. Last weekend, 2.3 million viewers tuned in for their game against Seattle. That’s 263% more than the most-watched game of the weekend (New York vs. Las Vegas) and 454% more than the most-watched game of the weekend.

Now imagine Clark playing at a level close to his crowd-pleasing college team in a real-life playoff and playoff series?

The WNBA has always struggled to attract attention once the NFL season begins. Maybe not in this case, though. Logo three-pointers and no-look passes tend to turn heads. The Clark phenomenon isn’t slowing down, it’s growing.

Every now and then, a singular talent comes along and, for whatever reason, connects with the public and ignites an entire sport: Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, even a certain Connor McGregor. But they need to continue to be successful and generate excitement for it to last, let alone snowball.

That’s the direction Clark is pointed in. That’s the monster.

In her 11 WNBA games before rumors spread that she would not make the Olympic roster, Clark averaged 15.6 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from three-point range.

In the 15 games between the tipoff and the break, she upped that to 18.2 points, 9.5 assists while shooting 43.9 overall and 35.7 from behind the arc.

In two games since the WNBA’s return, the Fever have averaged 26.0 points, 9.5 assists and shot 48.6 percent from the field. More importantly, the Fever have won both games.

Clark, like any rookie in any league, had to deal with a new environment.