Indiana Fever team building...

[CP87]

Well, they have Clark, Boston, and Mitchell back for next year. They lost Temi, and it sounds like they will lose Wheeler.

I assume Hull is coming back. Beyond that core-4, who else is going to contribute on the court in '25?

There has been a lot of Sabally talk, that would definitely be huge. I kind of think she will end up in a bigger metro area.

I am curious about Dewanna Bonner. Her fiancee just got traded to another team, and Bonner is at the tail-end of her career (37 years old). Does she want to take a year flyer on Clark and co. to see if something magical happens? Or does she try to tag onto an established contender? Her length, defense, and skill level could really unlock some small-ball options for the Fever (WNBA does NOT do small ball, so this would throw teams off), and by all accounts she is the consummate pro and an all-around great person.

 

[99topdawg]

I see they're going to play an exhibition game in Carver in May (siap). Going to cost quite a few pennies to get into that one.

 

[CP87]

I see they're going to play an exhibition game in Carver in May (siap). Going to cost quite a few pennies to get into that one.

Vs. the Brazilian National Team...Guyton's mom played for the Brazilian National team, and I think Guyton might, as well.

edit: might be some Boston vs. Cardoso action, too (old USC teammate vs. teammate)

 

[M1911A1Hawkeye]

I see they're going to play an exhibition game in Carver in May (siap). Going to cost quite a few pennies to get into that one.

Going to be an awesome day in Carver that day. Anyone know when tickets go on sale?

 

[M1911A1Hawkeye]

Indiana Fever Announce Preseason Tilt at University of Iowa

The WNBA’s Indiana Fever announced the addition of a preseason game on the campus of the University of Iowa in Iowa City on May 4, 2025, against the Brazilian National Team.

hawkeyesports.com

 

[guffus]

The Fever still have N. Smith, who started most of last year. Smith's minutes went down in the playoffs, which confused me a little. I guess the coach was looking for better defense? Not sure. Smith is still relatively young and might flourish under a new coach. Or Smith might get traded if the Fever pick up Sabally.

Wheeler did not play a lot of minutes because she kinda was Caitlin's backup last year, but I think her veteran leadership will be missed.

Lexie Hull was a pleasant surprise for the Fever last year, going from rarely playing to starting, and she has the added bonus she seemed to become Caitlin's new best friend at the end of last season.

 

[CP87]

The Fever still have N. Smith, who started most of last year. Smith's minutes went down in the playoffs, which confused me a little. I guess the coach was looking for better defense? Not sure. Smith is still relatively young and might flourish under a new coach. Or Smith might get traded if the Fever pick up Sabally.

Wheeler did not play a lot of minutes because she kinda was Caitlin's backup last year, but I think her veteran leadership will be missed.

Lexie Hull was a pleasant surprise for the Fever last year, going from rarely playing to starting, and she has the added bonus she seemed to become Caitlin's new best friend at the end of last season.

They added Natasha Howard...33 years old, 3-time WNBA champ, former defensive player of the year (2019), 2x WNBA all-D (2018, 2019), former Fever (2014-2015), rugged post who can rebound and score. Not much of a threat from outside. I would think her addition would pretty much ensure Smith is traded.

I like the veteran leadership and the defense. To be generous, Mitchell and Clark are not plus defenders, and you cannot have undisciplined defenders behind them. While Howard cannot spread the floor, she can screen and roll, and Boston is emerging as a floor spacer. They also have Dantas to fill that role.

They now need a rangy, veteran wing, and a backup PG. I like Bonner as a wing with stretch-4 flexibility, maybe some of the LV Aces role players could also be available (Tiffany Hayes, Alysha Clark).

I see that the Storm cored Gabby Williams, but she seems like a perfect complement to Clark and Mitchell (plus defender, good potential as secondary creator alongside Clark, okay shooter). Would be a good backup PG, and could easily start on the wing. Probably a pipedream, not sure what the Fever could trade to acquire, I doubt the Storm want NaLyssa.

I would absolutely go to war with:

Starters:
Clark, Mitchell, Bonner, Howard, Boston

Mix-and-match bench:
G. Williams, Hull, Dantas, and potentially Katie Lou.

 

[judzeehawk]

The Fever traded for Sophie Cunningham from Phoenix. Sophie has played all 6 of her seasons with Phoenix. Started 21 of the 40 games this year with 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds a game. Sophie is kind of noted for being a nasty player. Takes no guff off of anybody.

 

[STILLBUSTER]

Fever need quality PF and Sabally woulda been perfect! Nonetheless
Top 5: CC, KM, AB, Howard, Cunningham.
Not that impressive.
-- CC is the shit. Mitchell is the.shit.
-- Boston is pretty good but can be up / down.
-- While Smith is no big loss, she still completed the need more than another role-player guard in Cunningham. Maybe her upside is still ascending?
-- Howard helps but undersized. Bust unless she continues her box to contribute 15/5.

Lexi is Fuerbach ... ANY offense is bonus but she's mostly for D. (She absolutely sux in the Unrivaled, which is where she should do okay if she has any game at all.) Only one worse than Lexi is Katy Lou.

Once again, it'll be a very noticeable drop off after the starting 5. Could hope for some quality in the draft but they gave away the farm for Cunningham! Cripes! # 19 pick in a shallow pool isn't gonna do the job.

 

[guffus]

I am disappointed in the Fever trade. Seems like to me Smith was better than Sophie Cunningham, but I guess Sophie is a 37% 3-point shooter, which might be useful. Not sure why the Fever had to swap draft picks to get her.

 

[guffus]

Part of me wonders if the Fever should try the 4-guard offense that worked well for Caitlin Clark in her senior season at Iowa. It would mean finding 4 good 3-point shooters to open up the floor.

Of course this may not work for the defense in a league like the WNBA, but it would be fun to watch on offense.

 

[STILLBUSTER]

Part of me wonders if the Fever should try the 4-guard offense that worked well for Caitlin Clark in her senior season at Iowa. It would mean finding 4 good 3-point shooters to open up the floor.

Of course this may not work for the defense in a league like the WNBA, but it would be fun to watch on offense.

My issue with "shooters" is they always have slumps. It's all about when and where you can get by when that happens and slumps are unpredictable. Admit, I'm a bit jaded by watching this so often at Iowa.
Also, I'm more of traditionalist ... I sorta have a baseline expectation that they'll make the basic shots most times, so, the "X" for me is that the game is about size / length and rebounding - especially for women.
Fever have enough 5'11 - 6'1 perimeter players. They need another quality big.

 

[ryno]

agree

 

[CP87]

The Fever traded for Sophie Cunningham from Phoenix. Sophie has played all 6 of her seasons with Phoenix. Started 21 of the 40 games this year with 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds a game. Sophie is kind of noted for being a nasty player. Takes no guff off of anybody.

God help the refs working a game with Cunningham and Clark on the floor at the same time!

 

[CP87]

Part of me wonders if the Fever should try the 4-guard offense that worked well for Caitlin Clark in her senior season at Iowa. It would mean finding 4 good 3-point shooters to open up the floor.

Of course this may not work for the defense in a league like the WNBA, but it would be fun to watch on offense.

I think that is absolutely what they are going for...not necessarily 4 guard, but 4 out. Howard can run, and she can handle the ball better and make decisions better than Smith. Bonner can play 3 or 4, and she is a legit perimeter threat (driving or shooting)...and she is 6' 4", which doesn't hurt. Both of those players upgrade the defensive front court.

Assuming Hull can do something resembling her post All Star Break shooting (I think she was around 70% post break, so maybe she settles in around 40% from 3), Clark will always have at least 3 (and maybe 4) good 3 pt shooters around her who can and will run. When the shots aren't falling, they have 4 players (AB, Howard, Bonner, Mitchell, and Clark) who are.above average in the restricted area. Now it is just up to the coaching staff to put these pieces together.

I am very optimistic about these moves, I think Fever are a top 4 team next year.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I am disappointed in the Fever trade. Seems like to me Smith was better than Sophie Cunningham, but I guess Sophie is a 37% 3-point shooter, which might be useful. Not sure why the Fever had to swap draft picks to get her.

They weren't even starting Smith in the playoffs as the yr went on she kinda played herself off the team. Her shot selection and inability to shoot well from the FT line or outside the paint made her a tough fit combined with her lack of defense. Cunningham is more of a 2-3 to me then a 4 but some say she can do some of that too. Shes way more versatile then Smith at both ends of the floor and is comfortable coming off the bench. I think Bonner starts but probably won't play huge mins most games cause she just shouldn't have to. Bonner/Cunningham and Hull make for a fantastic versatile 3 spot with 2 of them being able to play 3 positions.

The Fevers FO has really out did themselves this last week. They went for fits not just star name recognition. Sabaly was the hot name and offensively she's fantastic. But defensively and overall I'm not as sure she woulda fit as well as Howard will. The Fever didn't need 18/pts per game plus from that spot. They needed defense/hustle and someone capable of running the floor and consistently giving 14 plus pts and occasionally doing more. That's Howard to me in a nutshell

 

[Hawkboys]

The Fevers FO has really out did themselves this last week. They went for fits not just star name recognition. Sabaly was the hot name and offensively she's fantastic. But defensively and overall I'm not as sure she woulda fit as well as Howard will. The Fever didn't need 18/pts per game plus from that spot. They needed defense/hustle and someone capable of running the floor and consistently giving 14 plus pts and occasionally doing more. That's Howard to me in a nutshell

The Fever went from being 3 AS level players to 5-6 AS level players in about 48 hours. They'll probably run a 7-8 player rotation where they can go traditional 2 G / 2F /1C or 4G / 1C/F or somewhere in between. No matter what lineup is out there, there should be significantly better rebounding and defense, especially to help out Boston!!

Also, you'll see a fast paced run and gun offense where probably everyone individually will see a cut in PPG but collectively they'll be the highest scoring team in the WNBA.

 

[Bordone]

I don't think they are done. Still need a backup PG and need to offload Katie lou. If they can offload Katie Lou and get a backup pg overseas and use their draft to get a good defensive bench big they should be a top 3 team with the lynx and liberty.

 

[thedukeofearl]

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Regular Season Stats	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	FG%	3PT	3P%	FT	FT%	PF
Averages	27.7	8.4	3.9	2.0	1.0	0.3	1.0	2.6-6.0	42.9	1.7-4.5	37.8	1.5-1.7	87.0	2.3
Totals	1109	334	157	79	41	10	38	103-240	42.9	68-180	37.8	60-69	87.0	91

2024 Preseason