The Indiana Fever have shaken off early struggles. After conceding two losses in the first three games, the Fever won three back-to-back games. Their free-scoring offense that’s averaging 93.7 points per game and pace that wears out opponents has been blowing teams apart. Sue Bird, a four-time WNBA champion, knows pace better than most. And she’s impressed.
Notably, the Fever are averaging 93.7 points per game this season, the best in the league. This marks the franchise’s best start since the iconic 2012 season, when they won the league. Speaking on an NBC show, Bird raved about the Fever’s fast-paced style, remarking that she’s hopeful that the offense will only improve.
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“I absolutely love the pace they play with,” Bird said. “That is my type of pace, my type of team. I think that the type of thing people don’t understand is how much that wears other teams down when you play that fast. Of course, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston, I’ve got my eye on those forces. Monique Billings, Myisha Hines-Allen, the more they get acclimated in that offense, the better it runs.”
For context, the Fever averaged 84.3 points per game last season. This season marks a significant upturn in scoring. A four-time WNBA champion, Bird had elite partnerships with Diana Taurasi and Lauren Jackson as they swept the league. Bird had masterful playmaking and always created scoring angles for her teammates. Seeing the Fever replicate that dynamic, Bird drew parallels to her Seattle Storm days.
Clark, Boston, and Mitchell’s versatility enables the pace. It’s not system-imposed, but it’s a natural fit. According to The IX Sports, the Fever rank at the top of the league in pace. This says a lot about why the Fever has been able to score in the 90-point range in almost every game.
There’s no denying that the offense has been carried largely by three players: Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell. In fact, Clark (23.8) and Mitchell (22.3) are the only duo from the same team to feature among the top five in points this season.
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But players like Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull have also given viable support to these players. This added depth allows the Fever to avoid the sharpness of their offense from deteriorating when their Big Three isn’t on the court.
The team emphasizes fast offensive transitions and pick-and-roll with Clark and Boston. As the season progresses, the Fever offense will evolve for the better. As Bird said, Billings, Hines-Allen, and even Raven Johnson, to some extent, can give the Fever an even better dynamic, from the interior as well as the perimeter.
A glimpse of their offensive prowess was also visible in the Indiana Fever’s latest win over the Golden State Valkyries. The Valkyries under Natalie Nakase are a formidable defensive side. They rank 5th in terms of blocks per game (4.8). Furthermore, they haven’t conceded 90 points ever in this season before the Fever game.
Jun 24, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball against the Seattle Storm during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit:
But with Clark, Boston, and Mitchell combining for 61 points, the Fever made light work of the Valkyries. Clark led the night with 22 points after her return to the court following an absence from the Portland Fire game due to a stiff back. With this performance, CC continued her streak of scoring 20+ points in every game this season.
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She continues to maintain such a scoring spree, all while leading the league in assists (9.0 per game). It’s quite an impressive task, given that the Fever guard is coming off an injury-laden last season, and even this year, her stay has been marred by injuries.
Sue Bird shed light in this regard as well during her conversation on NBC. “I think people need to understand that she’s doing it in real time in front of you, and that’s very difficult,” Bird said. “To be honest, the physical part is one thing, but the mental part is harder.”
Being a floor general herself, she knows the importance of Clark to this team. Bird has always backed Clark, from publicly defending her to noting that she carried the”most pressure” of any rookie in WNBA history; she was always a fan of Clark.
But as the textbook says, games aren’t always won with offense. The defense needs to step up, too. And Caitlin Clark has recently made an interesting assessment in this aspect.
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WNBA Analyst Shares His Take on Caitlin Clark’s Defensive Assessment This Season
For most of her time in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark’s defense hasn’t really drawn much attention. Most felt that the Fever guard’s defense is still a work in progress. But after the Valkyries win, Clark didn’t mince her words in addressing it.
“Steph [White] has really challenged me on the defensive end, and I think there’s probably definitely a narrative of me not being a great defender, but I can guard,” Clark said. And subsequently, analyst Robin Lundberg has doubled down on this perspective.
“I’ve always said like she’s not a liability on defense,” Lundberg said on his YouTube channel. “Not a defensive stalwart, but not a liability. Caitlin’s a big guard. She has big arms, and she plays the passing lanes well. She gets a lot of steals and blocks.”
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Now, if you look at those seasons’ stats, you can see clearly that Clark hasn’t been defensively in statistical terms. In fact, she’s leading the Indiana Fever in blocks (1.0 per game). She averages the same number in terms of steals as well. So, Clark’s assessment after the Valkyries game is actually not completely wrong.
As Lundberg mentioned, she can add value to the team’s defense with her long reach. But of course, that isn’t her primary role, as she will always have to take care of the offensive side of her team, where she’s currently thriving.
But if she continues to improve on defense as well, it can help the team’s primary defenders, like Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull, immensely. And in turn, the Indiana Fever will thrive as a whole as well.
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The post “That is My Type of Team” – Sue Bird Gives Glowing Verdict on Caitlin Clark & Fever’s Strong Start to the Season appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
