Indiana Fever’s recent 5-game win streak without Caitlin Clark reminded us of Carolyn Peck’s prophecy. “I think that Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn’t play because she’s a ball-dominant guard.” Peck’s words on SportsCenter broke the internet and the WNBA community in early July, and they’re still echoing till date. Every time that Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard combine for a game-winning effort, fans and analysts begin to wonder whether Peck was actually right.
But the thing is, Stephanie White’s pace-and-space system isn’t based around one person. That, in and of itself, allows the Indiana Fever a lot of freedom to mix things up and insert new pieces at each position. Not to mention, the Mitchell-Boston duo is still going strong, and they’ve gotten a lot of help from veteran and 3x champion Howard. However, even though the Fever’s system itself is quite strong, Caitlin Clark just adds another layer to it!
Defenses collapse around the superstar, allowing her to make good use of her court vision. In fact, CC’s impact is so large that even WNBA legends like Candace Parker believe that Indiana doesn’t look as good without her. “For those nay-sayers out there that are like ‘You’re better without Caitlin’! They’re not. They’re not better without Caitlin.” Parker said on the most recent episode of Post Moves with co-host Aliyah Boston. “But I do feel like times like this, different people step up. Just like Natasha Howard stepped up during the Commissioner’s Cup, like it shows. And it can be a growth opportunity for teams.”
Barring Natasha Howard, the best example of this is Aari McDonald. The smaller guard was brought in on a hardship contract and absolutely balled out! So, after DeWanna Bonner’s messy exit, the Fever front office didn’t hesitate to bring her in for a $78,000 contract. McDonald is currently averaging about 10 and 5 in limited minutes, and the praise just doesn’t stop flowing for her!
Aliyah Boston and Candace Parker both agreed that the five-foot-six guard has been a game-changer for the Fever. “Aari is hooping.” Boston admitted. “I feel like we’ve said it so many times that Aari was the biggest blessing for us. Her ability as a point guard, her ability to get downhill, her speed, her defensive mind. Aari does everything for us.” She might only be playing about twenty-five minutes a night, but Aari McDonald definitely makes the opposing team feel every single second!
Everyone on the Fever has been stepping up during crucial moments, which is a great thing for the franchise! However, they’re definitely missing the unpredictability and the spacing that Caitlin Clark brings to the team. The Sparks figured out their weaknesses and capitalized on them last night, and other teams are bound to do the same. But when someone like Clark is on the floor, she can really affect the game, which is why an NBA superstar awarded her the highest honor possible.
Draymond Green gives Caitlin Clark her flowers
Caitlin Clark has changed the WNBA for good. Can we all agree on that? Since her record-breaking rookie year, the six-foot-tall point guard has brought nothing but positive attention and popularity to the rapidly growing league. Stadiums are packed, tickets are sold out, and buying a jersey has turned into the most difficult thing in the world for Indiana Fever fans! But there’s a massive question hanging over her head–can she be considered the face of the league so early in her career?
We’ve seldom seen players in their rookie or sophomore year who have had the same effect as Caitlin Clark. In fact, only one name truly comes to mind–LeBron James in ’03. The Boy from Akron was crowned King the second he stepped on the hardwood floor, and for good reason, too. And considering the countless comparisons between LBJ and CC, we know the Fever star is headed in a similar direction.
Jun 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to teammates during the third quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
According to Draymond Green, a 4x NBA champion and former DPOY, there’s no doubt about Clark’s dominance and presence in the W. He was asked who he thought was the face of the WNBA on Threads, and his response was quite simple. “Caitlin Clark. No question.”
It’s not a small feat to be crowned the face of the league from a legend as big as Draymond. The six-foot-six forward has seen them all… The LeBrons, the Currys, the Lukas. So for Money23Green to hand this honor to Caitlin Clark without a second thought is a pretty big deal! It will be interesting to see if the Indiana Fever star can continue to live up to the hype. She hasn’t played big minutes this season so far, but we’re all hoping to see her fit and fine for the playoffs! Stay tuned for more updates.
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