The Indiana Fever pulled off a 79-74 win against the Washington Mystics during the team's first preseason game of the 2025 season, but it didn't come easily — and the team appeared to struggle throughout the first half without Caitlin Clark on the floor.
The decision to keep Clark out of the game wasn't a bad one to make, especially since the Fever struggled to continue to score throughout the 2024 season when she wasn't on the court. In a lot of ways, it shows that Coach White is intent on developing the entire Fever as a team — something she has repeatedly said throughout the offseason and during training camp interviews — and that the season won't completely hinge on whether or not Clark is hitting threes.
But that doesn't mean it was always pretty, and that doesn't mean it was always fun for fans at home and at Gainbridge.
Caitlin Clark's absence impacts the Fever's offense
If there is one area the Fever needs to continue to develop, it's the offense without Caitlin Clark. Her absence was profoundly obvious as the team got off to a slow start and trailed the Mystics for most of the game. A truly talented point guard is tough to come by in the league, and not seeing her on the court made it clear how much Clark brings to the team.
As she has for years, Kelsey Mitchell showed yet again that though it can take her a bit to heat up, she can always be counted upon to do so. Mitchell, who racked up 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, showed she's more than capable of stepping into whatever role the Fever needs her to.
Sophie Cunningham, who departed the Mercury for the Fever during free agency, also proved herself to be a strong offensive power for the team during yesterday's game. Cunningham ended the game with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal and played a team-high 34 minutes. She also kept the energy of the team high and engaged the crowd, even when the team wasn't always meeting the sky-high expectations of fans. Cunningham made it clear what her role on the Fever will be — and that she is more than willing to meet it.
The Fever's defense has improved
Now, if there's one area where the Fever have already improved over last season, it's defense. DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard both demonstrated exactly why they were signed to the Fever this season, and after a few more weeks together, the Fever are likely to be a strong defensive force that every other team in the league will have to reckon with.
Howard in particular has made it clear she hopes to get back into Defensive Player of the Year shape, and yesterday's game was a solid demonstration of that intention. She first nabbed the honor in 2019 and was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2018 and 2019.