After a season that hinted at progress, the Indiana Fever find themselves once again slipping into familiar struggles.
Their record is marred by five losses, and while optimism surrounds Caitlin Clark‘s imminent return, it’s clear the problems go deeper than one player’s absence. As talented as Clark is, her presence alone may not be enough to rescue a roster still struggling to find its identity.
Last season, the Fever posted their best win total since 2016 and boasted the third-best offensive rating in the league at 104.2.
However, their defensive woes persisted. The team ranked among the worst in the WNBA defensively, continuing a long-standing trend.
Determined to change that, the front office made bold offseason moves. They brought in DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, both veteran players with strong defensive résumés. The goal was simple: bring balance to the floor.
On a recent episode of Locked on Women’s Basketball, host Chelsea Leite raised a crucial question to Fever beat reporter Tony East about whether this roster was ever constructed to truly function without Clark.
“They have certainly built a team in a style that is what her strengths are,” East explained. “But every player that doesn’t fit their offense perfectly that they added this free agency period, is a good defender. Or can add something on that end of the floor that could get them into transition and it just wasn’t there all the time for them.”
Defensive stats have improved but wins haven’t followed
Statistically, there’s reason to believe the Fever are making strides on defense. With a defensive rating of 95.2, they trail only the New York Liberty, a remarkable improvement considering they’ve ranked bottom-two in defense every year for seven consecutive seasons. In fact, it’s Indiana’s best defensive rating since 2013, when they posted a 96.8.
Yet, those gains haven’t translated to wins. Their only dominant showing came in the season opener, a 30-point blowout that gave fans hope, but the momentum didn’t carry over. Execution has been inconsistent, and despite improved individual effort, the team still hasn’t found its rhythm.
Coach Briann January, known for her own defensive toughness during her playing days, has taken a hands-on approach. She’s working to instill grit into the roster, and according to Clark, it’s already begun to shift team mentality.
“Bri has really challenged our group to be physical, to be up in their space,” Clark said.
That physicality has long been a weakness for Indiana. Despite bringing in seasoned defenders such as Bonner, Howard, Sophie Cunningham, and Jordin Canada, the Fever haven’t quite locked in as a unit.
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