“Worse Pick”: Caitlin Clark’s Newest Teammate Falls Victim After Indiana’s Front Office Decision Disappoints Fever Community

With Caitlin Clark in their ranks, the Indiana Fever had the chance to build a team to take them to the next level. Last season, Clark was everywhere as she helped her side end their seven-year playoff drought. The franchise had already added veterans and WNBA champions DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard to their ranks in what has been an offseason of overhaul. So, the draft presented the opportunity to build on that for the Fever. So, how did they do?

The Fever entered the draft with some solid assets—two second-round picks and one in the third. This was their shot at getting some underrated gems to strengthen the bench and build depth. With the number 19 pick, they went with Florida State forward Makayla Timpson. At number 20, they added South Carolina guard Bree Hall. Then, in the third round, they wrapped things up by selecting Gonzaga’s Yvonne Ejim at number 33 overall.

“I’m so excited [with the Draft results]. Obviously, picking in the second and third round, you have to be prepared for multiple scenarios. The name of the game tonight was to really shore up our defense, continue to bring in more versatility, and continue to add more weapons to this potent offense,” said new Fever COO and General Manager Amber Cox, giving an insight into their thought process.

And that’s exactly what the Fever did. They went all-in on defense, bringing in three solid defenders who can make tough shots when required to bolster their depth. On paper, it made sense. When you already have an elite backcourt like Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell—statistically the most efficient duo in the league last season—adding defense seems like the smart move.

Timpson could end up being the steal of the second round — she’s averaged a double-double over the past two seasons at Florida State and might become another reliable target for Clark’s pinpoint passes. On the other hand, Bree Hall received praise from Cox. “At No. 20 with Bree Hall, she is an elite defender on the perimeter and does a lot of things really, really well,” she said. This move unites Hall with Aliyah Boston, having played together in Columbia. But fans weren’t exactly jumping for joy.

They were hoping for some offensive flair. They wanted a spark. They wanted someone who would not complement Clark, but perhaps take some burden off her shoulders. They do have All-Star shooting guard Kelsey Mitchell and All-Star forward Aliyah Boston in their ranks, but perhaps adding a more attacking option would have only helped their cause to go past the first round in the playoffs this season.

One name kept popping up again and again—Lucy Olsen.

She was the fan-favorite heading into the draft. She was available. The stars seemed aligned for Olsen to join the Fever. But in the end? It just wasn’t meant to be. Fans weren’t too thrilled, and they definitely let the Fever know, with Bree Hall becoming the target of their anger.

Indiana is getting the winning pedigree from Bree Hall. During her time with the Gamecocks, she helped lead the team to four straight Final Four appearances and two national championships—in 2022 and again in 2024. Oh, and let’s not forget the three SEC tournament titles, too. That’s dominance. Hall also made history, playing in 147 games—the most by any four-year player in the program’s history.

She was often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top scorer and is widely considered one of the best defenders in this year’s WNBA draft class. With more games played over four years than anyone else in South Carolina history, she brings a wealth of experience to the league. Known as “Big Shot Breezy,” she earned that nickname by hitting clutch 3-pointers in high-pressure moments for South Carolina. But Indian fans seem unconvinced, despite Dawn Staley’s ringing endorsement just ahead of the Draft.

“In my 25 years of coaching, she’s on my all-time defensive team – all the players that I’ve coached – because she’s very consistent with it, and she relishes the challenge,” Staley said. But online, Indiana fans were up in arms. Social media lit up with frustration and confusion as many felt their draft dreams had been ignored.

Fans fume as Fever don’t draft the “next Caitlin Clark”

Fans weren’t holding back, and the comparisons came in hot. One frustrated fan wrote. “Bree Hall is a slightly worse pick if you compare Lucy Olsen. If you picked Hall for defensive prowess and 3pt shooting she will be competing with Lexie and Sophie. Lucy Olsen despite having defensive drawbacks was a great facilitator and a 3 level shooter. Lucy is a solid rim and mid level shooter with 3 pt ability. Bree Hall most staggering stat is her assist per game, which dropped from 1.5 to 1.0. The only positive I see is she is close to A. Boston so that is a plus”. B

One fan ranted, “Bree Hall got drafted but Deja Kelly didn’t? How bro?!? What are the qualifications?” Another joined in with, “Man tf why can yall not draft sedona weird ahh front office.” And just to add more fuel, someone else threw another name into the mix, “The selection had to be Serena Sundell.”

Deja Kelly had already made her mark as a star at North Carolina before making the move to the Oregon Ducks, where she thrived as the team’s primary scorer. In her four years at UNC, she scored 1,858 points, securing her spot as the eighth all-time leading scorer in the program’s history. She earned Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors and helped lead the Tar Heels to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, with a Sweet 16 run in 2022. Her ability to create her own shot and lead an offense made her a strong pro prospect, but somehow, she too went undrafted, leaving many fans scratching their heads. Another sharpshooter let go by Indiana, which didn’t please the fans.

Hall averaged just 5.8 points and 2.3 rebounds as a senior, much lower than Lucy Olsen’s 15.2 points, 4 assists, and 3.8 boards this season. But numbers don’t always tell the full story. Hall was the ultimate glue player. She made the extra pass, fought through every screen, and embraced the dirty work on defense. Every championship team needs someone like that, and South Carolina had her.

The Fever might’ve also missed a trick by passing on Kansas State’s Serena Sundell, who ended up going 26th overall to the Seattle Storm. She didn’t just have a big year—she had a monster one. Sundell was a 2025 WBCA and AP All-America honorable mention, and for good reason. She led the entire country in total assists with a school record of 262. She also topped the NCAA in assists per game (7.28) and had the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.52) in the Big 12.

Add in nine double-digit assist games–the most in the conference. You’ve got yourself a certified floor general, Storm! Sure, you could argue that Bree Hall brings more on the defensive end. But on the flip side, the overall package Serena Sundell offered might’ve outweighed that.

This is exactly what a fan says. “I wouldn’t have drafted EITHER of them. Lucy Olsen to Indiana WAS NOT the right move. But Bree Hall was an ABSURD move. Timpson is the steal of the draft. I would have taken Sundell. She was the second steal in the 3rd round who should have been taken in the first round, leading the country in assists.” 

But truth be told, the Fever might not be missing out on much by passing on Lucy Olsen or Serena Sundell. Their roster is already stacked, especially in the backcourt. In fact, a fan thinks Hall solves nothing either. “Way to solve a need you didn’t have…” they said, and there might be a point. Caitlin Clark’s team has a stacked roster.

Caitlin Clark and Co. already made some serious noise after bringing in DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sophie Cunningham. But there’s more. Jaelyn Brown and Jillian Alleyne are also in the mix on training camp contracts. Both have WNBA experience and know how to grind for a roster spot.

That’s where things get tricky for the three rookies who have been drafted. Indiana’s likely working with cap space for just one more player. This means any rookie coming in isn’t just competing with fellow draftees—they’re going up against seasoned vets who’ve been there, done that. And let’s be honest, rookies usually don’t win those battles, unless they are really special.