The Indiana Fever have gotten off to a lukewarm begin to the 2025 WNBA season, they usually’ll now must discover a solution to set up some momentum with out their greatest star.
On Monday, the Fever introduced that Caitlin Clark had suffered a quad harm and can miss the following two weeks of motion, at minimal. The staff was quick on particulars, mentioning nothing about when the harm occurred and solely that additional updates can be given when Clark is re-evaluated.
That is clearly not excellent information for the Fever, particularly with it coming after a heartbreaking loss at residence to the New York Liberty. Indiana led by as many as 12 factors within the fourth quarter however was unable to hold on in opposition to the defending champs, dropping the staff’s file to 2-2. Clark, particularly, didn’t appear to be herself, taking pictures 6-for-18 from the sphere (33.3 %) and committing 10 turnovers, whereas the Fever as a staff had been outscored 25-11 on the free throw line.
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Regardless of the letdown in opposition to New York and Clark’s harm, the Fever aren’t in a foul spot. It may very well be argued that they need to be 4-0 proper now fairly than 2-2, as their two losses got here by a complete of three factors. As for the fast future, the Fever have now hit a positive spot of their schedule, and even with out Clark, they’ve the gamers to make the most of it.
Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell are able to carrying the Fever
One of many the reason why so many analysts had been excessive on Indiana previous to the season was the quantity of star-level expertise on its roster. Heart Aliyah Boston and guard Kelsey Mitchell had been each named All-Stars in 2024, and each gamers are loads able to main their staff. The Fever will most likely be asking much more of the duo whereas Clark is recovering.
This would possibly contain working extra of the staff’s offense by Boston within the publish, which, by Indiana’s first 4 video games, has not been as a lot of a focus as in previous seasons. In 2023, 39 % of Boston’s offensive possessions got here by way of post-ups, based on Synergy Sports activities; this season, that frequency has dipped to 18.3 %, with head coach Stephanie White putting a larger emphasis on Boston rolling to the basket.
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With out Clark to run the decide and roll, nonetheless, White might want Boston to return to her bread and butter—a minimum of briefly. Boston has been wonderful for the Fever to date in 2025, posting career-highs throughout the board (18.5 factors, 10.8 rebounds and two blocks per recreation; 60.8 % taking pictures from the sphere), so she actually appears able to tackle a heavier workload.
The Fever should discover a means to do that with out sacrificing an excessive amount of of their general offensive id. Indiana at present leads the WNBA in share of offensive possessions coming in transition (21.9 %), which is a bonus the Fever would certainly like to preserve. It may be tough to play at a quick tempo when post-ups are an enormous a part of a staff’s playbook, although, so if Boston goes to function extra along with her again to the basket, the Fever’s tempo of play could drop.
It doesn’t matter what schematic changes the Fever make within the coming weeks, anticipate Mitchell to stay an enormous a part of their plans. The 2-time All-Star has been one of many league’s most reliable scorers for years, having averaged higher than 17 factors per recreation in each WNBA season since 2020, and he or she’s positively no stranger to carrying a big offensive burden, as evidenced by the numerous years she spent as Indiana’s sole dependable scoring menace.
The place Mitchell may very well be requested to do extra, although, is within the playmaking division. In response to Basketball Reference, she’s solely assisted on 25 % or extra of her teammates’ baskets as soon as in her profession (2022), and since Indiana drafted Clark, she’s been ending performs much more usually than initiating them. And not using a clear reply to begin at level guard (veteran backup Sydney Colson might begin and play extra minutes, however most likely received’t have a big function in any other case), Mitchell will certainly have the ball in her fingers extra usually. She’s not a pure distributor, however it should do in the intervening time. As a result of Indiana is already quick on ball handlers, a by-committee offense that has Mitchell bringing the ball up and nonetheless getting her common 14-15 pictures per recreation could also be so as.
The Fever are approaching a smooth spot of their schedule
The opposite motive to be optimistic in regards to the Fever at this level within the season is simply as easy: They’re, on paper, higher than a lot of the groups they’re about to play.
Indiana’s upcoming schedule contains video games in opposition to the Washington Mystics (2-3), Connecticut Solar (0-4) and Chicago Sky (0-3). Each the Mystics and Solar are in various phases of roster rebuilds, and whereas that on no account ensures Fever victories in opposition to them, it’s arduous to not like Indiana’s possibilities. As for the Sky, we already noticed the Fever dismantle them of their season opener, and Chicago hasn’t executed a lot to encourage any confidence since then.
There aren’t many positive issues within the WNBA, and Indiana hasn’t executed almost sufficient but to take its upcoming opponents flippantly. Even so, the Fever are in a great place to earn just a few wins, and by the point Clark returns, they may very well be poised to make a run on the prime of the WNBA standings.