After some initial issues last season, the Indiana Fever made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, looking like a team on the way up. With over $650,000 in cap space, they can target some big names to continue to accelerate the organization’s rise.
The issue, though, is whether another star will be able to share the spotlight with Caitlin Clark, and whether there will be enough time on the court for other players to reach their potential. Last year, head coach Christie Sides’ rotations weren’t particularly flexible, with Grace Berger and Victaria Saxton usually spending whole games on the bench; Berger played in only 11 games last season, while Saxton saw action in just nine contests. It’s evident that keeping the two in Indiana is stunting their growth. Unless something changes, it may be better for both sides if the players move on to where they’ll be more appreciated.
For the Fever, this would mean two additional roster spots, which may become crucial since the previous regime dug the team into a bit of a ditch. Their two highest earners are bench players and because their contracts are protected, the financial flexibility of the Fever is limited. While Katie Lou Samuelson is a good locker room presence, the Fever could have an awesome veteran in Erica…
