UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Indiana Fever started their season coming up short against the Connecticut Sun. In the aftermath of that May opening-night defeat, they acknowledged their young roster — even if led by a phenom at point guard and the reigning Rookie of the Year in the post — had some learning to do when it came to winning in the WNBA.
After four years of playing a specific style at Iowa, Caitlin Clark had to figure out how to run a new offensive system. Everyone else had to learn how to play off of her: Aliyah Boston would have to make decisions out of the short roll, Kelsey Mitchell would have the ball in her hands less. All of the Fever players would have to run. A lot.
After a 2-9 start, Indiana made quick progress on those fronts. The Fever won seven more games than last season, breaking a seven-year playoff drought. They finished in the top half of league standings and were a trendy pick to upset Connecticut in the first round, or at least take a game from the Sun.
GO DEEPER
From shaky start to playoff bound, how Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever revived their season
Instead, Indiana once again exited Connecticut acutely aware of the gap between itself and the league’s top tier after being swept in two games. Four months after her welcome-to-the-WNBA moment,…
