The Indiana Fever are set to make history in the WNBA, with 41 of their 44 games airing on national television-more than any team has ever had in a single season.
This unprecedented spotlight follows their impressive turnaround last year, making them one of the league’s most anticipated teams. But with that attention comes heightened expectations, and the front office has made major moves to ensure the Fever remain competitive.
Can the Fever’s new additions strengthen their core?
The foundation of the Fever’s resurgence in 2024 was the electrifying backcourt duo of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Clark, the No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year, dazzled with her 19.2 points and league-leading 8.4 assists per game, while Mitchell quietly put up a career-best 19.2 points on 46.8% shooting.
Together, they powered Indiana to a 20-20 finish, a significant improvement from their 13-27 record the previous year.
Despite that success, the Fever’s front office wasn’t satisfied. They bolstered their roster with veteran talent, signing DeWanna Bonner, a two-time champion with a 17.1-point career average, Natasha Howard, a three-time champion and former Defensive Player of the Year, and Sophie Cunningham, a gritty sharpshooter.
These additions bring championship experience and versatility to the squad, but they also raise questions-can Mitchell and Clark maintain their chemistry with more scorers demanding the ball?
Rachel DeMita, a national analyst, weighed in on the changes.
“Last season, they didn’t have as stacked of a team as they do now. So, Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark really found their groove,” she said on her YouTube channel.
While she praised them as the WNBA’s best backcourt, she also questioned how the added talent might impact their scoring output.
On the defensive side, the Fever hope the new additions address their biggest weakness from last season. While they’re unlikely to become a top-tier defense overnight, the presence of veterans like Howard and Bonner should help develop a stronger defensive culture.
With a deeper, more experienced roster, the Fever have all the tools to make a championship push. However, integrating new talent isn’t always seamless. If they can find the right balance, Indiana could emerge as a legitimate title contender. If not, they risk becoming a case of too many stars and not enough touches. Either way, the entire league-and millions of fans-will be watching.
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