2024 was an incredible year for the WNBA and women’s sports in general. The WNBA broke viewership records all across the board, sold out arenas, and several players secured yet another Gold medal for the United States at the Olympics in Paris. Women’s basketball is on the rise, and this is just the beginning.
No WNBA team experienced the league’s rise in popularity more than the Indiana Fever, led by rookie phenom Caitlin Clark. Clark drew plenty of eyes to the Fever, bringing her very own fanbase to the WNBA. Her WNBA career started with tons of expectations for Clark’s success, and she quickly rose to the challenge, breaking record after record.
Clark’s play also translated to success for the Fever after a rather slow start to the season. It was a big year, shaped by several defining moments.
The WNBA Draft
The Indiana Fever were lucky enough to win the WNBA Draft lottery twice in a row. In 2023, they used the first overall pick on Aliyah Boston, who quickly established herself as an All-Star and one of the best young bigs in the game. And yet, it was the 2024 WNBA Draft that truly changed the Fever’s fortunes.
Indiana got the unique chance to pair two generational talents when they drafted Caitlin Clark. They also landed one of the most popular college players in recent memory. The 2024 Draft did not just immediately improve the Fever’s roster and chances to win but also made Indiana one of the most-watched teams in the league.
On top of that, Clark is the kind of player who can be the face of a franchise for years to come. With two franchise players secured, the Fever are set up well for the future and can now focus on assembling the right supporting cast.
Boston and Clark both make the All-Star team
While the Fever knew the day they drafted Caitlin Clark that they had a duo of young All-Stars firmly in place now, seeing both of them go to the 2024 All-Star Game confirmed it. It was a defining moment not just for the Indiana Fever but also for the entire league. Clark and Boston will be regulars at the WNBA All-Star Game from now on and will most likely be representing the Indiana Fever for at least the next few years.
On top of being an All-Star in her very first WNBA season, Clark was also named to the All-WNBA First Team. She was only the fifth rookie in league history to receive that honor and will likely add many more selections to her resume.
The Fever returned to the playoffs
Led by Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, the Indiana Fever returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Fever had endured a lot of losing until this season and were rewarded with two number-one picks. Drafting high does not always guarantee a quick return to the playoffs, however.
For the Fever it did, and making the playoffs was one of the defining moments of the year. Not only did it solidify Clark’s standing in the WNBA, but it also confirmed that the Fever are back in the mix and gearing up for contention.
Indiana may not have won a playoff game with Clark and Boston on the team yet, but they certainly learned some important lessons going up against the Connecticut Sun and will only get better from now on. Expect the Fever to be back in the playoffs next year and aim to win a series.
The Fever made some big personnel changes
The Fever are not only gearing up for contention on the court but also off the court. Since the season ended, the Fever brought back Kelly Krauskopf, the architect of their 2012 championship team, and replaced head coach Christie Sides with Stephanie White. White is a much more experienced coach than Sides, known for her strong defensive teams. The expectation is that she will be able to take the Fever to the next level.
Both moves are significant changes that signify one thing: the Fever are preparing to be a true contender. When she was on the Locked on Women’s Basketball Podcast, Krauskopf made it clear that she thinks the Fever’s window to win a championship is already open, and the organization will be aggressive this offseason to put the right pieces around their big three.
If anyone still had doubts about the Fever’s goals, this should alleviate them.