Indiana Fever, like a phoenix, rose from the ashes this off-season. After breaking their seven-year playoff curse, the Fever front office maneuvered the free-agency period with a lot of grace and elegance. And with the bets placed right, they are rewarded. This year’s free agency caught the league off-guard, with major shifts that no one expected, but Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark, and Stephanie White benefited the most from this upheaval. Not just you, even the Connecticut Star Caitlin Bickle too feels the same. So what exactly changed?

Well, Kelly Krauskopf and Stephanie White pulled off an absolute free-agency masterclass! They brought in players with championship experience, namely Natasha Howard and DeWanna Bonner, and retained their young core of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston. No one expected the Indiana-based team to turn it around so quickly, and the entire league was shocked. Guess what the 24-year-old star has to say?

Recently, on EssentiallySports’ Exclusive, Andrew Whitelaw had the chance to interview Caitlin Bickle, the Connecticut Number 51. Bickle, who has been balling out in Italy during her off-season, got candid about everything related to the W. The interviewer pivoted the conversation towards the fan-favorite Indiana Fever. “What do you think of the Fever’s off-season moves? You mentioned DeWanna Bonner earlier. Are they championship material now? Or at least going deep in the playoffs?” He asked the six-foot-one guard.

And honestly, Indiana’s gain has been Connecticut’s loss this off-season. “I think so. Y’know, Stephanie White obviously is a phenomenal coach.” Both DeWanna Bonner and Stephanie White were with the Sun last year, even though this is a homecoming for the Fever head coach.

White’s first WNBA assignment was with the Fever, and she even took them to the finals in her first year! To have her back is huge for Indiana, and Caitlin Bickle agreed. “She knows the game, and I think her system fits really well to what Clark does, and what she’s good at.” Bickle, after playing a season under White, had nothing but praise for her former head coach.

She continued, talking about the positives of the current Fever roster. “And then, you not only have her, you’re still keeping Aliyah, you’re still keeping Kelsey. But you also added DeWanna Bonner…but you also have so many pieces that you’re putting around those core four.” Caitlin Bickle said, providing insights on Indiana’s off-season success.

However, their new-look roster comes at a large disadvantage for Bickle’s team. While the six-foot-one guard is poised to return with a qualifying offer, her team is in disarray. But what exactly is the new dynamic between both teams?

Caitlin Clark’s new-look squad a problem for the Sun?

After a dominating free-agency period for the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark and her team are slated to make a deep playoff run this season. However, their victory might come at the expense of another team. The Connecticut Sun has been quite successful under Stephanie White, reaching consecutive semi-finals over the last two years. But with her shift to Indiana, trouble is on the horizon for the Sun.

It isn’t just about Stephanie White. DeWanna Bonner’s absence too played a huge role in weakening Connecticut’s team. Their Big Three has been dismantled, and even ESPN believes that the team has taken a hit. According to their Way-Too-Early Power Rankings, Connecticut ranks at number 7, a far cry from championship contention.

Not only that, their off-season has been ranked as a grade D by ESPN. Now, even Natasha Cloud is traded to the New York Liberty. Honestly, the Connecticut’s former power has been reduced to rubble. Caitlin Clark and her team’s roster overhaul delivered a huge and heavy blow to Connecticut, and only time will tell how long it takes for them to recover from it.

However, it’s looking quite good for the Fever. With CC ready to take the league by storm, and a bunch of veteran experience on the team, the Fever can genuinely contend for a title this season. It will be interesting to see how the postseason turns out, and whether Indiana can live up to the hype, but our excitement can’t be contained!

Stay tuned for more such updates, and here’s WNBA prodigy Caitlin Bickle’s candid take on the intense Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese rivalry and a lot more!