Caitlin Clark & Co. Finds Silver Lining in 1 Major Downside as National Analyst Place Strong Bet on Indiana Fever

What do you do when your biggest weakness becomes your greatest edge? You run with it—literally. The Indiana Fever aren’t the tallest team on the court, but they might just be the fastest. Standing at an average of 6 feet 1 inch, the Fever are shorter than most WNBA rosters. But after a 20–20 season, a record-breaking rookie campaign from Caitlin Clark, and playoff buzz ignited across arenas, the conversation is shifting.

And now, this national analyst is placing her bet on Indiana’s small-ball uprising.

“They are absolutely contenders this season,” Rachael A. DeMita declared on her podcast. “One thing I think that goes against the Indiana Fever is their size. But one thing that combats that is they don’t actually need size.”

Stephanie White, back as the Fever’s head coach in 2025, echoed this sentiment with a tactical twist. On The Good Follow Show, Stephanie White detailed her vision for Caitlin Clark’s evolving role. She emphasized the importance of using Clark as a screener and involving her in actions later in the offensive sequence—on the third and fourth side—rather than early, where defensive schemes can more easily anticipate her moves. White explained that the goal is to position Clark in ways that not only make her less predictable but also elevate the performance of her teammates off the ball.

This setup draws inspiration from the Golden State Warriors’ use of Stephen Curry, where Clark’s gravity pulls defenders away, opening lanes for sharpshooters like Kelsey Mitchell, who dropped 19.2 points per game in 2024, or new addition DeWanna Bonner, a 29.4% three-point shooter last season.

The strategy is to outpace, not outmuscle. “If they’re going to play the brand of basketball that they continue to talk about playing, and that is to play quick and run the floor,” DeMita said, “the Fever are going to be absolutely fine.”

White isn’t just retooling the Fever — she’s reimagining them. She sees Aliyah Boston not merely as a dominant post presence but as the team’s control tower. In fact, during the same episode of The Good Follow Show, she drew a bold comparison: Boston as the WNBA’s version of Nikola Jokić — an elite facilitator operating from the block. Expect the Fever to run plenty of offense through Boston, making her a central hub in a system designed for speed and surprise.

But that’s just one layer. With Sydney Colson on the floor as a savvy secondary point guard, Indiana could roll out a triple-engine playmaking setup. Clark, Boston, and Colson—each capable of orchestrating—give the Fever the luxury to blur traditional roles and fast-track their run-and-gun rhythm.

It’s not all smooth sailing, though. The Fever’s 35.0 rebounds per game ranked fourth in 2024, and teams like the Minnesota Lynx, with 36.2 boards, could punish them on the glass. Natasha Howard’s defensive grit—she’s a former Defensive Player of the Year—will be key to holding the paint, but smaller guards like Clark and Mitchell might get targeted.

It’s chess, not checkers in Indiana, and if you ask sports host DeMita, her final bet is clear: the Fever storming into the postseason as the No. 2 seed. Undersized? Maybe. Underestimated? At your own risk.

DeMita’s final bet? Indiana as the No. 2 seed. Undersized—but underestimated at your own risk.

Can the Fever make a deep playoff run?

With Caitlin Clark leading the charge, the Indiana Fever are aiming not just for another playoff berth in 2025—but for a deep run that could reshape the franchise’s identity. Clark, who averaged 16.7 points, a league-leading 7.9 assists, and 3.4 three-pointers per game in her rookie year, will have plenty of marquee matchups to prove she’s ready for the next step.

All eyes will be on the Fever’s seven showdowns with the Chicago Sky, headlined by the heated rivalry between Clark and Angel Reese. Last season’s matchups brought record-breaking viewership, and this year promises to bring even more intensity. Notably, Indiana hosts Chicago at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17 and again on August 9 and September 5, with ticket prices starting at $66, $56, and $48, respectively.

Equally compelling will be Indiana’s meetings with the Dallas Wings, featuring another anticipated rerun of the 2024 final-four game between Clark and Paige Bueckers. The Wings travel to Indiana on July 13 and August 12, with prices beginning at $55 and $37. With both guards likely vying for All-WNBA honors, these games could be season-defining.

If Clark continues to evolve and Indiana’s veteran core—Mitchell, Boston, Bonner, and Howard—stays healthy, the Fever have the talent, depth, and schedule spotlight to make 2025 a season for the record books.