Caitlin Clark has spent her offseason balancing time between personal interests and closely monitoring the Indiana Fever‘s efforts to strengthen their roster.
Whether it was improving her golf game, supporting her boyfriend Connor McCaffery and the Butler Bulldogs, or returning to Des Moines to watch her Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark made the most of her time off the court.
However, her biggest focus remained on how the Fever would build around her, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell to turn the franchise into a true WNBA contender. As the team executed a series of key signings and trades, Clark took to social media to show her excitement, posting a string of fire emojis to hype up the Fever‘s impressive offseason.
A Game-Changing Offseason for the Indiana Fever
The Fever wasted no time in strengthening their roster. They secured Kelsey Mitchell‘s return with a one-year contract and made significant acquisitions through trades and free agency. In a three-team deal involving the Phoenix Mercury and Dallas Wings, Indiana landed Jaelyn Brown and Sophie Cunningham, two players expected to contribute immediately.
Free agency saw even bigger moves as DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard joined the team, bringing championship experience and veteran leadership. The Fever then further bolstered their depth by signing Sydney Colson and Brianna Turner, ensuring a well-rounded squad for the upcoming season.
These additions have drastically changed expectations for the team. What was once a young, promising roster now has the makings of a legitimate title contender. Even Minnesota Lynx star Courtney Williams acknowledged the transformation, calling the Fever a team that would be “scary” to face after adding so much talent.
Last season, Indiana finished with a 20-20 record, securing the sixth seed in the playoffs before falling to the Connecticut Sun in the first round. While Clark showed her ability to compete at the highest level, the expectations for the upcoming season are far greater. With an upgraded roster, the Fever are no longer just a playoff hopeful-they are part of the championship conversation.
Seattle Storm’s Lexie Brown Pushes Back on Anti-Clark Narrative
Despite Clark‘s incredible rookie campaign, a lingering narrative suggested that WNBA veterans were not fond of her. Some critics claimed that experienced players resented Clark‘s presence in the league, leading to an underlying tension. However, Seattle Storm veteran Lexie Brown recently dismissed that notion.
Speaking on the Full Circle Podcast on Feb. 8, Brown pointed out that the very players who were rumored to dislike Clark-such as Bonner, Howard, and Cunningham-chose to join the Fever during the offseason.
“I think all the noise from last year, obviously it’s gonna be there, but you add a ton of veterans that supposedly were ‘hating’ on the rookies, but all wanted to go play with her,” Brown said. “Like, they wasn’t hating.”
She further explained that while players may have been frustrated with constantly having to guard Clark, they understood the value of playing alongside a generational talent.
“They was pissed that we had to chase her around all the time. But if you get the opportunity to play next to a player like that, you’re gonna take it.”
With the Fever‘s revamped roster and Clark at the helm, Indiana has positioned itself as a true WNBA powerhouse heading into the new season.
While teams like the Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, and Connecticut Sun will be formidable opponents, Indiana now has the pieces to challenge the league’s elite. T
he expectations are sky-high, and Clark is ready to take on the challenge.
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