The WNBA preseason is finally done. And guess what? The Indiana Fever is rolling into the new season with serious momentum. Caitlin Clark and co end the preseason undefeated. A clean 3-0 sweep. Not a single L. Confidence? Sky high. And honestly, it should be. They made big moves in free agency—Natasha Howard, DeWanna Bonner, Sophie Cunningham. That’s a stacked list. No wonder fans are buzzing. Expectations? Through the roof! And analysts believe Coach Stephanie White has already laid the groundwork for something special. A winning formula might just be in the works.
After that tough playoff loss to the Connecticut Sun last season, the Fever wasted no time. They got in some big names to shore up their defense. And most importantly–Caitlin Clark finally got some guard depth as well. Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham were brought in to share the load. Last year, she was logging close to 40 minutes a night. That’s wild. No rookie should have to carry that kind of load. But now? Things are looking up. The results speak for themselves. Wins over the Washington Mystics, Brazil’s National Team, and the Atlanta Dream in preseason show that the changes are already paying off.
According to No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show’s Sabreena Merchant, the changes in Indiana have definitely lightened Caitlin Clark’s load. She said, “Clark had such an enormous offensive burden last season for the Indiana Fever. So if you think about how you get her more energy on the defensive end, some of it is just lessening what she has to do on offense.”
And that’s exactly what we’ve seen so far. Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham have stepped up big time, and that’s great news for Caitlin Clark. Hull made the most of her 23 minutes off the bench against the Atlanta Dream. She poured in 11 of her 14 total points in the fourth quarter alone, leading the team in scoring. She went 6-of-12 from the field, grabbed five boards, and handed out four assists. Then there’s Sophie Cunningham–who absolutely lit it up against the Mystics. She dropped a game-high 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out two assists, and finished with a +16 on the floor. A statement performance. These two have shown they can take some weight off the Indiana superstar’s shoulders.
Sabreena didn’t stop there. She also pointed out how the Connecticut Sun–under coach Stephanie White–were ranked number 1 or 2 in defense over the past two seasons. That’s not a fluke. That’s coaching. And now, with DeWanna Bonner coming over from the Sun, that same defensive grit could rub off on Indiana. Last season, defense wasn’t exactly the Fever’s strong suit. But this year? It’s looking like a different story. On paper, Indiana seems to have all the pieces. Star power. Veteran leadership. Depth. Defense. Everything you need to go after a title.
Stephanie White also gave Caitlin Clark her flowers for the work she put in over the offseason. Let’s check out what she had to say.
Stephanie White highlights Caitlin Clark’s growth this offseason
Any team with Caitlin Clark on it is automatically must-watch. But let’s be real–last season, she had a tough time adjusting to the W’s physicality. Everyone remembers the double and triple teams she had to face throughout the season. So, what did she do? She hit the gym. Hard. She’s been working all offseason to bulk up and get stronger. Remember that Iowa game photo that went viral? Yeah—the one where her triceps were doing all the talking? That wasn’t just for show.
Apr 30, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark poses for a photo Wednesday, April 30, 2025, during the Indiana Fever media day at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Coach White had high praise for CC and said, “She is stronger, first and foremost. She’s got a lot of self-awareness. She figured out right away: I need to get stronger, I can’t get knocked around as much. She’s done a great job of getting in the weight room and focusing on her strength, in terms of low center of gravity, time under tension.”
Sabreena also pointed out in that podcast how Caitlin Clark’s offseason work is focused on handling those double teams better. Remember when Clark chose to skip Unrivaled to focus on her body? Well, those results are starting to show. It’ll be really interesting to see how Year 2 of the Caitlin Clark era plays out.
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