Last year appeared destined to be a disaster for the Indiana Fever. With Caitlin Clark injured and playing just 13 games due to a groin injury, the Fever finished sixth in the WNBA standings.
However, the regular season is only half of the story.
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In the playoffs, the Fever went on a stellar run. They beat the Atlanta Dream in the first round and pushed the Las Vegas Aces to a Game 5 winner-take-all scenario in the semifinals. The Fever fell short of their ultimate goal, losing to the Aces—but so did everyone else.
Now, the Fever know they have the talent beyond Clark to compete. With players like Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, they can contend for a title right now, as long as they make the right moves.
So, here are the questions they need to answer to strengthen their title aspirations. Let us know what moves you think the Fever should, or shouldn’t, make in the comments.
1. Is maintaining the Big 3 the top priority for the Fever?
The No.1 priority for the Fever has to be securing their trio of Boston, Mitchell and Clark. So far, they’ve taken the first step by coring Mitchell.
Sometimes the most important thing to do is the most obvious one. Retaining their top players and finding out just how far they can go together makes more sense than trying to make a big splash with some free agent signings.
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Indiana already has a Big 3. And if they keep them intact, and everyone stays healthy, they’ll be tough to beat this season.
Or, do you disagree? Would you like the Fever to move on from Mitchell and look for a different star running mate for Boston and Clark? Is Mitchell, a super scorer, the perfect third-star archetype? Or, could another star, with different strengths and weaknesses, be a better fit?
2. Can the Fever develop the right team around Caitlin Clark?
While Boston and Mitchell matter, this is Clark’s team.
They’ll only go as far as she can take them. All trades or acquisitions they make have to be executed with the idea of uplifting her game. That means bringing in players who can support her strengths and hide her weaknesses.
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The Fever can go out and look for defensive-minded guards they can pair with Clark in the backcourt. Clark is many things, but a defensive stalwart isn’t one of them. Or, they can add some shooters to the roster. Clark averages 8.5 assists per game, so bringing in players who can turn her passes into buckets would be ideal.
These don’t have to be big moves; they just have to be rotation-level players that can share the floor with Clark and elevate her game.
Who are some names you have your eye on? And among potential role player returners—namely, Lexie Hull, Sophie Cunningham and Natasha Howard—who should the Fever prioritize retaining? Alternatively, would Indiana be better served thinking of Boston, and not Clark, as their superstar centerpiece?
3. What should Indiana do with the No. 10 pick in the draft?
Every draft pick matters, and with the Fever having the No. 10 pick, the right addition could take them to the next level. They have the luxury of not needing a franchise-changing player; they can draft for fit or need.
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Players that might be on the table are a shooter like UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens, a defense-first guard in South Carolina’s Raven Johnson or a scoring forward in Ole Miss’ Cotie McMahon.
Before the NCAA Tournament, our Eric Nemchock mocked Raven to the Fever; in his most-recent mock, he has Indiana instead opting for her teammate, Ta’Niya Latson. Either of the Gamecocks could provide Indy with backcourt depth and another potential ball handler on the floor. Additionally, Johnson or Latson could satisfy two of the team’s three top priorities: first, nailing this pick and then bringing in a backcourt player who complements Clark.
Who do you hope falls to the Fever at No. 10? Rather than a guard, would you like to see them go big and find the frontcourt partner of the future for Boston? Or, are you open to moving the pick in a trade for an experienced vet who is better equipped to contribute to a win-now team?
