Ahead of the WNBA's opening week, one team caught the basketball world's attention in Indiana. That team being the Fever, who are ready to take Women's Professional Basketball by storm.
The Indiana Fever are entering a new era after selecting one of the biggest stars in college basketball with the No.1 overall pick, Caitlin Clark.
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Offseason
After selecting Aliyah Boston with the No.1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever have lucked out again by taking Caitlin Clark from Iowa with the No.1 overall pick in this year's draft.
It's no secret that Clark might be the most talented women's basketball star to come out yet.
She has made an impact already, having played in the WNBA Preseason, showcasing her three-point shooting and playmaking abilities.
The hype surrounding Caitlin Clark and the Fever is at an all-time high, with arenas throughout the league selling out and constant media attention on Indiana; including a full slate of nationally televised games too.
Aliyah Boston
(Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
All eyes will be on Caitlin Clark, but no one should sleep on Aliyah Boston.
Boston is coming off an electric rookie season averaging 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
She has spent time with the U.S. Women's National Basketball team and could be looking to have another monster season, especially when playing with a guard as impactful as Caitlin Clark.
Aliyah Boston's game compliments Clark as she has shown the ability to operate in the low-post along with playing well in the pick-and-roll.
Regular Season Expectations
Expectations for the Indiana Fever are as high as they will ever be after taking Caitlin Clark with the No.1 overall pick and with Aliyah Boston now in year two.
The franchise has not made the playoffs since 2016, but if the stars align correctly, we could be looking at a playoff berth in the first season of the Clark and Boston era.
Indiana has a solid core around Clark and Boston with Kelsey Mitchell and Nalyssa Smith. Mitchell, being an All-Star last season, is the perfect guard to play off two new vital playmakers. Smith has shown her worth in the previous season, proving to come up big-time for the Fever in spurts.
The Fever have a strong young core in Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Nalyssa Smith, and Erica Wheeler; as the team could make a massive jump offensively this year.
However, a lack of experience and defensive issues may hinder what could be an elite WNBA squad.
Defensively, the Fever was at the bottom of the league ranking 11th. They won't find much success in the postseason if they continue to struggle on that side on the floor.
Caitlin Clark could be transcendent on offense, but if she takes steps to improve her defense throughout the season, there should be no reason to sleep on Indy for a playoff run in 2024.
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