Do you remember what was the goal for Indiana Fever? Well, it was returning to the postseason for the first time since Tamika Catchings took them there in 2016. And Caitlin Clark & Co. did make that happen. But this year, they’re dreaming bigger. We’re talking about the title. In a full circle moment, the only common thread from that 2016 squad is Stephanie White—who’s back in the driver’s seat after nearly a decade.
After back-to-back No. 1 overall picks and a 7-win jump last year that pushed them to .500 and into the playoffs, the Fever looked like they were trending up. Especially considering they also improved by 8 wins in 2023 after bottoming out at 5-31 in 2022. But they still made a bold move—firing Christie Sides after just two seasons and bringing in White.
For the head coach, the offseason was all about filling in the gaps that affected their performance last season. The biggest one was not a single starter had playoff experience. Well, that changes this season. Natasha Howard has three titles. DeWanna Bonner has two. Sydney Colson also brings champion vibes from Vegas.
With only five players back from last season, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, Clark and Damiris Dantas, the team is coming in with experience, better defense, and shooting. The hype’s not just coming from fans. Even former sports columnist Jason Whitlock had to hop on the bandwagon, calling them a “championship team” and saying “The biggest story in sports come May and it will last all the way through the summer and their championship run.”
Jun 10, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White watches from the sideline as they take on the Indiana Fever at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Last year, Fever’s odds to win the title floated somewhere between +1,000 and +2,500. This year, they’ve shot up to +350, tied with the Aces and just behind the Liberty. That’s what major signings and a promising preseason will do for you. And speaking of preseason, the Fever smoked Brazil by 64 points and edged the Mystics in an OT thriller.
But, even Cinderella’s slippers need polishing. Coach White was real about it—missed defensive rotations, poor closeouts, bad rebounding, and spacing that made half-court sets feel like rush hour traffic. “Sometimes we were on top of one another,” she admitted. Not ideal when you’re trying to move the ball and make plays.
And sure enough, during the Mystics game, you could see it. Players bunching up, missing defensive assignments, letting offensive rebounds slip away. Against Brazil, similar hiccups. It’s all part of getting everyone on the same page and there’s still time. After all, they’ve already returned to Salesforce Court, and you better believe those drills are focused on spacing and boards.
Defensive rebounding was a sore spot last season too, averaging just 26.8 per game and ranking low across the board. Opponents grabbed way too many second chances, and that’s the kind of thing that can break a playoff run. But now that the issues are out in the open, the Fever knows what they need to fix. Plus, team chemistry might not be a huge concern since the Fever squad already shares a close, fun bond off the court. The real task is translating that vibe onto the hardwood. And sure, with so many new faces, it might take a little time.
But if success looks like “a championship” and nothing less to Clark, they will need to make that happen- and fast. Plus, team chemistry might not be a huge concern since the Fever squad already shares a close, fun bond off the court. The foundation is already there. For the time being, before she locks in for her own title chase, Clark’s still in full fan mode for Indiana’s other playoff squad…
Caitlin Clark had the best reaction to the Pacers’ wild win
Tyrese Haliburton just snatched Cleveland’s soul and handed Pacers fans a night they won’t stop talking about anytime soon. Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semis ended with pure chaos—and a Haliburton moment.
The Pacers were already up 1-0, which is impressive enough considering they stole Game 1 in Cleveland. But Tuesday night was something else. With the Cavs missing Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, and Darius Garland, the Pacers knew it was time to strike.
Things got real spicy in the final seconds. Down by two, Andrew Nembhard picked Max Strus’ pocket with just 27.5 seconds left—just straight-up yoinked the inbounds pass. Then came the chaos. Haliburton drove in, got fouled, made the first free throw, missed the second… but he grabbed his own rebound, took it back out, and casually drained a step-back three with Ty Jerome’s hand in his face.
It was a game-winner with 1.1 seconds left on the clock. And watching it all from home was Indiana’s own Clark. She couldn’t contain herself. She jumped on X and dropped a “TY!!!!!!!! WHAT A WIN !!!!!!” And if you’re counting, that’s 14 exclamation points. Fourteen!! She meant every one of them, too.
WHAT CAITLIN CLARK SAID #YesCers #NowYouKnow pic.twitter.com/PJWdTDGqi3
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 7, 2025
This isn’t the first time Clark has shown love for Haliburton. The two already share a pretty adorable friendship off the court. Clark’s tight with Ty and his girlfriend, Jade Jones, so you know she’s watching every second. Now that Clark’s WNBA Year 2 with the Indiana Fever is just days away, we might get to see the roles reverse.
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