A Promising Season for the Indiana Fever
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Indiana Fever kicked off their season with a disappointing loss against the Connecticut Sun. Following that challenging opening night in May, the team recognized the hurdles posed by their youthful roster. Despite being guided by a phenomenal point guard and the reigning Rookie of the Year in the post, the Fever had much to learn about winning in the competitive landscape of the WNBA.
After spending four years at Iowa playing a specific style, Caitlin Clark faced the challenge of adjusting to a new offensive system. Meanwhile, her teammates needed to adapt their play to complement her skills: Aliyah Boston was tasked with making crucial decisions from the short roll, while Kelsey Mitchell found herself with the ball less often. The entire Fever squad was required to push the pace and run, a significant adjustment for all involved.
Despite a sluggish start leading to a 2-9 record, Indiana showed remarkable progress as the season unfolded. The Fever managed to secure seven more victories than in the previous season, successfully breaking a seven-year playoff drought. They concluded the regular season in the top half of the league standings, becoming a popular choice to upset Connecticut in the first round or at least capture a game from the formidable Sun.
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However, Indiana found themselves swept by Connecticut once again, leaving the team with a stark awareness of the gap that still exists between themselves and the top tier of the league. Just four months after her initial welcome-to-the-WNBA moment, Clark and her teammates were met with another lesson in postseason execution. This revelation will linger in their minds throughout the offseason as they continue to rebuild their franchise.
“When you’re in a rebuilding phase, everyone naturally wants to leap to the point of winning championships and bringing home a ring,” Boston reflected. “But when you take a step back and look at the entirety of basketball, from where you started to where you are now, it’s all about making progress.”
The most critical segment of the Fever’s rebuilding process appears to be complete: they have secured their star talents. The question now becomes, what lies ahead?
When Lin Dunn returned to Indiana as the interim general manager in 2022, she established a three-year timeline aimed at guiding the Fever back to the postseason. Coach Christie Sides had anticipated it would take an extra season when she joined the team in 2023. However, with the acquisitions of Boston and Clark, Dunn’s vision remained on track. The Fever indeed reached the playoffs in her third season at the helm, and now they are poised to enter the next phase of their journey.
Dunn emphasized, “Now it’s time to aim for championships.”
The 2024 season demonstrated that both Clark and Boston can serve as foundational components of a championship-caliber team, yet their internal development will be crucial for Indiana’s future success.
As the season progressed, Clark showed noticeable improvement, becoming a more effective shooter and driver. Nevertheless, she often relied too heavily on her three-point shooting when facing tougher defenses. Of her 40 shot attempts against Connecticut, a staggering 25 were from beyond the arc, with limited success (just 20 percent). A similar trend emerged during a two-game set against the Aces, where she shot only 3 of 18. For Clark to enhance her efficiency amidst rising competition, diversifying her shooting arsenal will be essential.
Additionally, Clark must prioritize her defensive game. She experienced several lapses against Marina Mabrey in Game 1, and the Fever repeatedly addressed critical miscommunications during the elimination match. Improved conditioning and a longer break before the 2025 season could enable Clark to exert more effort on both ends of the court, especially considering how the Olympic break positively impacted her performance in the latter half of the 2024 season. To advance as a team, Clark needs to emerge as a two-way player.
Although reports from ESPN indicated that Clark was not planning to play overseas, she clarified that she has yet to make a definitive decision. She intends to take a few weeks off before diving back into basketball activities, humorously suggesting that she’ll be playing plenty of golf in the meantime. Currently, Clark has not committed to any non-WNBA leagues, including the upcoming three-on-three league, Unrivaled. Dunn expressed her hope that Clark will participate in some additional five-on-five play before embarking on her sophomore WNBA season.
