This Saturday marks the start of what Indiana Fever fans hope is a championship run. The team added major pieces combined with interesting young talent, and the expectations couldn't be higher. They face their first major test in the Chicago Sky, who will visit Gainbridge Field House in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair.
All eyes will be on Indianapolis this weekend, and not just those in the arena. The game, being broadcast on ABC, is expected to draw in record numbers with millions of viewers. Last year, it was the Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark rivalry. This year, former LSU standout Hailey Van Lith is being added to the mix for the Sky, along with a lot of veteran leadership for the Fever. It's only game one, but the next saga in the Clark-Reese rivalry is expected to be a blockbuster. It should be noted that WNBA viewership on ESPN in 2024 was up 170 percent from the previous season.
The Fever’s season opener is expected to get a lot of attention
This weekend's opening day game is one of 41 that are set to be nationally televised for the Fever. While attending the Business of Women's Sports Summit event, WNBA legend Sue Bird predicted that the Sky-Fever game would shatter previous viewership records and peak at as many as 3 million viewers.
Rebecca Lobo, another WNBA great who will be commentating for ESPN on Saturday, had high praise for the recent history between the two franchises.
"I think we're going to see really good basketball. I think people of course are going to be tuning in to watch Caitlin and Angel, but I think they are also going to be tuning in to say "Okay, what does the Indiana Fever look like this year with the pieces they acquired in free agency?" Lobo said in an interview with Front Office Sports.
Fan's curiosity is even broader this season than last. Many teams, especially the Fever, are completely revamped from the coaching staff to almost the entire roster. The Sky also added some pieces to bring in veteran leadership, drafted a stud in Van Lith who played alongside Reese at LSU, and also hired a new head coach. The Fever will be tested right out of the gate against a good Chicago team. The likely millions of viewers tuning in won't have to worry about a disappointing game. It will consist of a fast-paced, aggressive performance from both squads.
A win over the Sky would set the perfect tone for the Fever’s season
The stakes are high for the Fever in this first game. A win in the first game will boost their confidence as a team as they begin to navigate a 44-game season. It's a championship-or-bust kind of feel—something this franchise hasn't seen in several years, dating back to the Tamika Catchings era. They will have to prove early on that they can play together and play well in high-pressure situations, especially given the number of eyes that will be on them all season long, ranging from the local media to nationwide and even international attention.
Having a great amount of pressure is a privilege, and Fever fans are hopeful their team doesn't consistently fail the test. Saturday's match-up with the Sky will be the first time this iteration of the team will play on the big stage together, and success and chemistry early on can set the perfect tone for the season.
A loss to start the season, however, will raise several questions around the team. The Fever don't just have high expectations for themselves, but recent preseason rankings have them ranked fourth out of 13 teams in the league as well. The same rankings made by ESPN in 2024 had the Fever coming into that season ranked as the eighth seed and with notably lower expectations.
It is crucial that the Fever start this season in the win column. The team has been vocal about being able to block out the noise around them last season, but the stakes are elevated now, which can lead to a loss of confidence amongst players if the team is not successful.