The wait is finally over for Indiana Fever fans. With training camp officially in action, fans get to watch Caitlin Clark play basketball again and will get a few chances to evaluate the team’s new roster. The Fever made several upgrades this offseason, adding plenty of two-way veterans with championship experience.
The goal was to build a contender around Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston right now. It seems to have worked. With the additions of DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sophie Cunningham, the Fever look like a legitimate playoff threat. Even their opposition is taking notice.
One of the biggest improvements the Fever had to make after last season was getting better defensively. Bringing in Stephanie White as the new head coach was the first step. Step two was giving her players to work with. Now, the last thing the Fever must do is bring everything together and make it work on the court.
Some early training camp footage looked promising, especially with DeWanna Bonner in the starting lineup.
DeWanna Bonner is the best defender in the Fever’s starting lineup
In a starting lineup that features Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Aliyah Boston, Bonner is the best defender and arguably the key to the Fever succeeding on both ends of the floor. On day one of training camp, Bonner proved that she could help the Fever address one of their biggest issues.
The Fever spent some significant time playing five-on-five on the full court. Bonner’s defense stood out among the starters. Her length immediately made a difference, especially off the ball, as she got into passing lanes and moved into gaps.
Given Bonner’s track record, Fever fans should expect to see this kind of defensive impact from her regularly. If she can deliver high-level defense, the Fever have a real chance of competing for a title. Indiana does not have to turn into a top-three defense. Getting their defensive rating up to an average number rather than one of the worst in the league should be enough to make the Fever an elite team.
Stopping this team from scoring will be incredibly difficult. The Fever were already one of the best offensive teams in the WNBA last season. Now, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston have more experience, and the roster is filled with offensive weapons. The Fever should be even better on that end of the floor. If they can also hold their own defensively, the Fever will be incredibly difficult to beat, and Bonner will be the key to accomplishing that.