3 Lessons Caitlin Clark and the Fever must learn from playoffs

The Indiana Fever were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Connecticut Sun to end a historic season. Caitlin Clark became a star, broke multiple records, and brought new popularity to the W. She is already elite but could not lift an inexperienced team in the postseason. The Fever had played just 19 combined playoff contests before the series and only four players had been in the postseason.

Clark is ready for a break as Indiana enters a crucial offseason. The franchise got their first taste of the playoffs since 2016, but that is not enough. Clark is a superstar and the team wants to build a championship roster around her.

That starts with taking the lessons they learned from 2024. The Fever were significantly better but finished 20-20 and were eliminated by a franchise with six straight final four appearances. If Indiana wants to defeat Connecticut and the other top teams in the W, they must learn from these playoff issues.

3. Fever need more talent

In the final game, all five starters played at least 31 minutes and only three reserves saw the floor. Head coach Christie Sides played Damiris Dantas and Erica Wheeler for nine minutes each with NaLyssa Smith getting just four. That was the team’s bench production as Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell never left the floor.

The Sky used just seven players, but Brionna Jones was the only one who played fewer than 24 minutes. They trusted everyone who steppe out there and gave them multiple opportunities to impact the contest.

New Fever president Kelly Krauskopf knows how to build a contender and has significant work to do. Indiana needs more shooting, playmaking, and defense to compete with the top teams in the W. They saw that in this series and whenever they faced best competition this season.

There must be a philosophical change too.

2. Defense wins championships

Each semifinalist finished in the top five in defensive rating this season, while Indiana was 11th. The Fever were third in offensive rating and first by 3.5 points per 100 possessions after the Olympic break. Caitlin Clark will lead one of the W’s top-scoring units, but the franchise needs defense to be a true title contender.

Head coach Christie Sides must improve her defensive scheme. The Fever were 11th in 3-pointers allowed and opponent 3-point percentage this season. They would let the opposition launch freely from the perimeter, which usually backfired. Adding a defensive-minded assistant coach and an emphasis on that end of the floor could do wonders for Indiana.

Ultimately, the Fever’s chances come down to their superstar.

1. Clark must improve and can’t be sole playmaker

The 22-year-old struggled to find her jumper in the playoffs. She went two of 13 from 3-point range in Game 1 and felt like she was just finding her rhythm in the fourth quarter of Game 2 before the Sun went on a run to close out the series. Clark needs the ball in her hands to reach maximum efficiency, and the Fever went away from her too much in this series.

The problem is twofold. Clark must improve off the ball. She needs to be a threat and find ways to get open without dominating possession. The Fever also need more talent around her. Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston are All-Stars but struggle to create with the ball. Indiana needs another playmaker and more floor spacing around their superstar.

The Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark got some needed playoff experience in 2024. The rookie will be even better in year two, and the franchise hopes to be in title contention. They must learn from this year and make the necessary changes. It is a massive offseason, so stay tuned for all the latest.