The Indiana Fever are no longer happy with a first-round playoff exit. Caitlin Clark earned first-team All-WNBA honors and is an unquestioned superstar. The franchise is now focused on building a championship roster around her and taking that next step toward the top of the league.
Internal growth will be a crucial piece of the puzzle. Clark must improve in year two. She is an elite playmaker but was considerably more efficient after the Olympic break. It must carry into year. Aliyah Boston is working on her jumper. Having their two stars improve is crucial but not enough.
The Fever need upgrades too. They already retooled their front office and have their sights set on adding talent. These moves coupled with internal growth must happen for Indiana to be a serious title challenger in 2025.
5. Backup point guard
The playmaking behind Clark was thin this season, and reserve point guard Erica Wheeler is an unrestricted free agent. The Fever may try to bring her back, but it would mean taking a significant pay cut. Wheeler may try to get more elsewhere and certainly could find additional playing time on another roster.
Clark averaged 8.4 assists per game in her rookie season, and Aliyah Boston was the only other player on the Fever to produce more than two each night. The franchise needs someone to step in when Clark needs a rest. Finding a skilled option on the cheap in free agency should be a front office priority. Someone capable of running the offense and getting the Fever quality looks.
This is not at the top of the list because Clark will play massive minutes. Indiana needs someone to fill the remaining time who is capable of playing off their superstar for stretches. This carries into a larger problem for the franchise.
4. Depth
The Fever struggled to find five trusted players in their first-round playoff series against the Sun. NaLyssa Smith started Game 1 but played just nine minutes. Head coach Christie Sides used Damiris Dantas for 24 minutes off the bench. She was one of 12 players who appeared in the contest, but only six played more than ten minutes. Temi Fagbenle started Game 2 and only the five starters played over ten minutes.
The Fever cannot rely solely on their starters if they plan on making a deep playoff run. There will be injuries, foul trouble, and just ineffectiveness that forces the coach to change things up. Indiana needs quality options on their bench to turn to when things go south.
Ideally, the Fever add multiple options here, including some wing and frontcourt depth. Finding the pieces won’t be easy, but they should focus on fits around Clark.
3. Defense
Indiana finished 11th in defensive rating last season, and the two teams that reached the WNBA Finals were in the top three. The Seattle Storm were the only top-five team that did not reach the semifinals. It was another case of offense winning games, but defense bringing home a championship.
Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and Lexi Hull are not known for their defense. Indiana needs internal improvement and a lockdown option to join their roster. Aliyah Boston blocks shots but struggles guarding on the perimeter.
Improvement on this end is two-fold. The Fever need to change their scheme and add talent. Locking in and emphasizing this end of the floor is crucial, but Indiana needs upgrades. Even getting to league average would be enough to push the Fever into serious contention.
2. Kelsey Mitchell
Indiana cannot afford to lose Mitchell. The two-time All-Star shined playing off Caitlin Clark but can become an unrestricted free agent. The Fever can core her, but it means offering a one-year max salary. They would still have cap space to improve their roster. It seems like a no-brainer, but depends on what Kelly Krauskopf has planned.
Mitchell averaged 24.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 35.9 minutes per game over her first 13 games after the Olympic break. She shot 50.2 percent from the field and 45.4 percent on her threes as the Fever had the best offensive rating in the W. Mitchell and Clark are a special offensive duo, and the front office needs to keep them in Indiana.
The 5’8 guard will have plenty of say but expect the Fever to bring her back.
1. Power forward upgrade
NaLyssa Smith was dumped from the rotation in the playoffs, and it is time to move on. They should trade the former number two overall draft pick to the highest bidder and find a better fit at the four.
Ideally, it would be a versatile defender capable of stretching the floor. That is one of the hardest molds to find, but the Fever have something special to offer. They play in front of a sellout crowd every night and have the brightest young star in the W. Is that enough to convince the missing piece to come to Indiana? The Fever will try the sales pitch.
They may have to rely on a Lexie Hull type. Someone who has struggled, but finds her footing playing off Caitlin Clark. Uncovering a breakout keeps the price down and gives the Fever more assets to work with to further upgrade their roster.
The Indiana Fever want to jump into title contention quickly, but they are a few pieces short. Expect them to try to add them this offseason, and stay tuned to see how it all plays out.