Caitlin Clark’s role with the Indiana Fever continues to spark debate, and one WNBA analyst believes her absence has actually revealed a different side of the team.
Clark remains the centerpiece of Indiana’s offense, with one of the highest usage rates in the league and a playstyle that naturally puts the ball in her hands on most possessions.
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That has helped elevate the Fever into relevance, but it has also led to questions about how the team functions without her.
WNBA analyst Lawrencia Moten took that discussion a step further, and her take has quickly divided opinion.
Photo by Bobby Goddin/Getty Images
Lawrencia Moten claims Indiana Fever play better team basketball without Caitlin Clark
Speaking via ESPN on YouTube, Moten explained her perspective.
“This is my hot take. Honestly, the Indiana Fever played some of their best team basketball without Caitlin Clark, and that’s because she’s like the sun that that offense kind of orbits around,” Moten said.
She added, “The ball is constantly in her hands, which just made their offense extremely easy to guard.”
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The argument centers around predictability. With Clark dominating possessions, opposing defenses can focus their entire game plan on slowing her down, which can simplify coverage despite her individual brilliance.
It is a classic trade-off between star-driven efficiency and collective unpredictability.
Why a more balanced offense changed Indiana Fever’s approach
Moten expanded on how the team adapted when Clark was unavailable.
“Now, without her in the lineup, Stephanie White had to decide who else was going to get in the mix, and their offense became so much more diverse. We saw Kelsey Mitchell have a tremendous season,” she continued.
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“Lexie Hull got in the fold. Aliyah Boston had another dominant season. All because they had to do it without Caitlin Clark, and that made their offense extremely hard to guard,” Moten concluded.
Without Clark’s 31 percent usage rate, Indiana’s offense became less centralized, forcing multiple players to create and share responsibility.
That shift allowed players like Kelsey Mitchell, who averaged over 20 points per game, and Aliyah Boston, who recorded multiple double-doubles, to take on expanded roles.
The Fever’s offensive rating dropped from a top-tier level with Clark to closer to league average without her, even as their defense improved and opponents scored fewer points per possession.
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That contrast is what makes the debate so compelling. Without Clark, Indiana may become less predictable and more balanced. But with her, they still possess one of the most dynamic offensive engines in the league.
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