Ever since Caitlin Clark suited up for the Indiana Fever, things have looked different. From setting records to making their first playoff appearance since 2016 with a 20-20 record, the team showed undeniable growth. But the postseason wasn’t kind, they were swept 2-0 by Stephanie White’s Connecticut Sun in the first round. Fast forward to 2025, and it’s clear: everything has changed. Just ask Rachael DeAmita.
The Indiana Fever’s new look campaign just dropped, signaling the official start of their 2025 preparations. And as DeAmita caught a glimpse, she didn’t hold back. “The Indiana Fever are taking no prisoners this season and they have just launched their new marketing campaign with the tagline, Now You Know,” she said.
She wasn’t just reacting to a cool promo video — she was responding to a full-on transformation. “It’s so good and it’s such a stark difference from what we saw from the Indiana Fever…I feel like the Indiana Fever last season were a team that just went to work, didn’t say much, just let their on-court play speak for itself. Like, they were at the center of all of the drama within the WNBA,” she added.
And she’s got a point. Only five players are returning from the 2024 roster: Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, and Damiris Dantas. The rest? All new faces, ten, to be exact, brought in through trades, the draft, or free agency.
Among them, DeWanna Bonner stands out. A 15-year veteran and the WNBA’s all-time leader in playoff games played, Bonner headlines the Fever’s free-agent haul. Right alongside her? Three-time WNBA champion Natasha Howard. But Indiana didn’t stop there.
Determined to build a defense-first identity, they added Brianna Turner and two-time champion Sydney Colson through free agency. And for added firepower, Sophie Cunningham joined the squad via trade from the Phoenix Mercury. It’s all part of a strategic shift led by the new front office, president Kelly Krauskopf and GM Amber Cox, who made it a point to target players with championship experience.
That leadership infusion is exactly what Indiana’s young core — Clark, Boston, and Mitchell — needed to elevate their game.
“It’s excited me since we made trades and we got everyone on the roster, in a sense,” Boston said.
“Now, to finally be on the court, I think it’s even more like the energy is even higher.”
And the overhaul isn’t just on the floor. Stephanie White is now calling the shots, bringing a fresh perspective and a two-way mentality to practices.
New HC is focusing on strengthening both the offensive and defensive sides ofthe Indiana Fever
When Stephanie White took the reins in Indiana, she didn’t waste time. Her first move? Dig deep into the Fever’s 2024 roster , a group that showed real promise but ultimately fell short. Despite an 8-2 surge after the Olympic break and a long-awaited return to the playoffs with a 20-20 record, they couldn’t advance past the first round. Something wasn’t clicking. White quickly pinpointed the problem: defense.
Even with standout frontcourt players like Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith, the Fever gave up an average of 87.7 points per game , second-worst in the league, ranking 11th out of 12 teams. That stat alone painted the full picture. So White, known for her defensive-minded success with the Connecticut Sun, got to work.
“We’ve got to get better on the defensive end of the floor,” she told The Athletic. And if anyone’s built for that challenge, it’s her. Under White’s leadership, the Sun owned the league’s top defensive rating at 96.4 and held opponents to a stingy 73.6 points per game. Now, she’s bringing that same gritty blueprint to Indiana.
One of her first major moves? Adding Briann January to the coaching staff. A six-time WNBA All-Defensive Team honoree and former Fever guard, January is the only person alongside White with firsthand experience from the 2015 Finals run. Her presence isn’t just symbolic , it’s strategic.
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star The Indiana Fever welcome Stephanie White as their new head coach Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, during a press conference held on Salesforce Court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indianapolis , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMykalxMcEldowney/IndyStarx USATSI_24675101
By just Day 3 of training camp, the Fever’s defensive rebuild was well underway. White had helped assemble a lockdown unit, starting with Brianna Turner , a two-time All-Defensive First Team selection with elite rim protection. Then came Natasha Howard, a defensive anchor in her own right with toughness, experience, and championship grit.
And the biggest swing? DeWanna Bonner , a versatile, savvy veteran who followed White from Connecticut. Her ability to guard multiple positions adds size, leadership, and a winning mentality. Sydney Colson brings vocal fire and defensive hustle, while rookie Makayla Timpson , an All-ACC Defensive pick , is already making waves with her tenacity.
But White isn’t just patching up the defense. She’s tuning the offense, too , starting with Caitlin Clark.
“She figured out right away, ‘I need to get stronger. I can’t get knocked around as much,’” White said. “She’s done a great job of getting in the weight room and focusing on her strength , low center of gravity, time under tension, all of those things. I think the next step is efficiency. Fewer turnovers, higher field goal percentage.”
And White’s not wrong. Last season, Clark faced relentless physicality. From Chennedy Carter’s Flagrant 1 foul that sent her crashing to the floor, to playing through bruises during the playoffs , the rookie sensation had no easy path. White wants that to change.
Clark, who currently averages 5.6 turnovers per game, needs to sharpen her decision-making under pressure. Her shooting efficiency, 41.7% from the field, also has to climb, especially with elite defenses locked in on her every move. But with White steering the ship and Clark leveling up physically and mentally, the Fever are starting to look like something real.
So, after all these changes , stacked defense, sharpened offense, and a no-nonsense coaching plan , the question remains: is this finally Indiana’s year?
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