If you’re a Fever fan, Saturday just can’t come soon enough. Looking to finish off their preseason undefeated, Indiana will be taking on the Atlanta Dream away from home. This season, there is a change in the air around Indiana’s camp. The flame that was lit in Indiana by the arrival of Clark is now being fanned the way it deserves. Lacking the necessary veteran presence last year, they have since added to their ranks heavily and feature seven new players this season. And with Stephanie White back at the helm, she will be looking to lead the team back to the finals. Just the way she did a decade ago.
Taking inspiration from her 2015 team that was led by Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, White knew the value of experience to make deep playoff runs. And with her star point guard being in agreement, the season promises to be nothing like the last. “The main thing we were lacking last year was experience… Adding really great vets like [Bonner] and Syd [Colson] and Tash [Howard] and putting that experience around us of not just being in this league but also winning. They have the championship pedigree.” said Caitlin Clark. When White took on the job last year, she knew they had to improve defensively after a dismal season defensively. Fever ended last season with the second-worst defensive rating in the league. In the preseason, however, those woes have seemingly been erased by the presence of the treacherous twins.
Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull are the ultimate duo. In their preseason opener against the Mystics, they set the tone defensively by pressing the opposing guards full court. Their disruptive play kept the team in the game despite the team shooting a poor 30% from the field, taking us back to White’s comments when she was first appointed. “We’ve got to make sure on the days that shots aren’t falling, that we’re able to position ourselves to win ball games” she said in 2024. With the team showing championship flashes early on, the belief in the team extends far beyond Indiana with analyst Ashley Nicole Moss serving caution to their fellow contenders.
Jul 17, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the first half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
“We were talking about the Fever last season, about how they could upset or at least give a team that we expected to go the distance a really hard time. This season, I think that they are a team that you don’t want to face in a playoff scenario.” she said on the We Need To Talk podcast. Having fallen in the first round last year, Ashley believes this team is nothing like the one that lost to the Sun. And the person to credit for that is GM Amber Cox. “When you have a talent like that, you have to certainly build an amazing roster around them, and they have done that.” Co-Host Alicia Jay said appreciating Cox’s offseason moves. “We’ve already seen them play a little bit, but cannot wait to see what they do this season for sure.”
As the Indiana Fever‘s title odds are burning up, Vegas will be betting on their three-time MVP to silence the chatter. With the league appearing to have forgotten about the Aces’ back to back titles, it doesn’t bother A’ja, for she’s focused on the singular goal of improving. “What I see is, she went and got better,” Aces’ coach Becky Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason.” Standing at the brink of history, Wilson would be the only player to have won the MVP four times if she does so this year. And with an extra chip on her shoulder, she will not be doing the Fever’s championship dreams any favor.
Threats to Clark’s Championship Hunt
Las Vegas Aces
The Aces are projected to be a solid pick for the chip yet again. While the departure of Kelsey Plum would hurt the chances of any team, they have found an exceptional replacement in Jewell Lloyd and are right back in the mix. The presence of Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young will ensure the team never runs out of scoring options. With spacing being a key element in Hammon’s squads, the Las Vegas Aces are capable of wrecking defenses across the NBA. Sitting right next to the Fever on most projections, they’ll surely be a significant threat. But although the neutrals would love to see a new side being crowned, the favorites still sit in New York.
New York Liberty
Fresh off their first WNBA Championship, the New York Liberty enter the 2025 season as strong favorites for a repeat. Their championship core of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Finals MVP Jonquel Jones remains intact, offering the recipe for proven success.Key offseason moves will further solidify their conquest for a repeat. Through the addition of veteran playmaker Natasha Cloud, they will be looking to compensate for Courtney Vandersloot’s departure. Although a tough job, but the hardnosed defender brings championship experience of her own, having won the title in 2019. Though Betnijah Laney-Hamilton’s potential absence due to injury presents a challenge, the Liberty’s overall talent pool remains deep.
The DraftKings Sportsbook have placed New York as the favorites to win it all once again, reflecting their dominance last season. And with the Wizard Marianne Johannes returning after missing last season, their depth will get even better. While the Fever will undoubtedly be coming for their heads, Liberty’s experience, star power and strategic acquisitions position them as the team to beat in the quest for this year’s title.
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