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The hype kicked off with a single photograph. In March, during the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament in Indianapolis, a shot of Caitlin Clark cheering from the sidelines, arms flexed, muscles defined, went viral and sparked conversation across social media. “There’s been much ado about her guns,” said Amber Cox, the Fever’s chief operating officer. Even the team staff took notice. “She was obviously very proud of it,” added Sarah Kessler, Indiana’s head athletic performance coach. “We did have a chuckle about it, though, because it garnered more attention than we realized it would.”
That viral image wasn’t just a flash of vanity; it was evidence of Clark’s offseason grind. For the first time since the summer of 2023, she had the time and space to focus entirely on building her body for the rigors of the WNBA. “I don’t know the last time I’ve had an athlete in the W, or even on the men’s side, really, where you have a consistent four- to five-month period where you get to just work together,” Kessler said. The main goal? Adding muscle. Clark embraced that challenge with characteristic tenacity. “I’ve had athletes who have said that, and then maybe when the work component shows up to actually achieve those goals, that’s where there’s maybe a disconnect,” Kessler noted. “But with Caitlin, she set those goals, and from the jump, I was seeing her in the weight room four to five times a week.”
The Indiana Fever are no longer just a team of distant promise. With Clark at the helm, they’re transforming into something far more formidable entering her sophomore season, an evolution that begins with the strength she added over the winter.
That work faces its first real test on Saturday. Indiana open their season at home against the Chicago Sky and Angel Reese, marking the first of five meetings between the two teams this year. Reese, like Clark, is coming off a stellar rookie season that helped drive record ratings and attendance for the WNBA. Their head-to-head battle is among the marquee matchups of opening weekend, offering a glimpse into the league’s bright future. “Rivalries are real, and that’s what makes sports so amazing,” Clark said. “There’s certain teams that those games just mean a little bit more. [We] come out here and play the same way every night, but [a rivalry] gets the fans involved, and they love it.”
Clark’s rapid development has been a revelation to head coach Stephanie White, who returned to Indiana this offseason after a successful stint with Connecticut. “There was a lot thrown at Caitlin from day one – new league, new players, everybody’s bigger, faster, stronger,” White said. “But she’s incredibly hardworking and a high IQ player. She wants to get better.” The oddsmakers seem to agree: Clark has been installed as the favorite to win Most Valuable Player this season, underscoring just how transformative her offseason work is expected to be.
Clark herself acknowledged that adjusting to the physicality of the WNBA was the biggest hurdle in her rookie season, one that opponents exploited. This time around, she’s determined to flip the narrative. “Going into year two, I feel like I have experience in this league. I know what to expect. I know how training camp works ... just having that experience of how things operate has provided me with a lot of confidence,” she said.
That confidence was evident during the Fever’s 81-76 preseason win over the Atlanta Dream, where Clark’s newfound strength was immediately apparent. She moved with ease, her trademark deep threes looking even more effortless. Her drives to the basket were powered by strength she didn’t have last season, and the velocity on her passes mirrored the work she put in over the winter. “It seems like she may have even increased her three-point range,” one observer noted. “Her logo bombs were on display, and the ease with which she launched them was striking.”
The Fever underwent a significant roster overhaul during the offseason, with general manager Kelly Krauskopf and head coach Amber Stocks prioritizing veteran leadership. Bonner, Howard and Sydney Colson were brought in to infuse the roster with experience and championship pedigree. “I think the main thing we were lacking last year was experience,” Clark noted. “Adding really great vets like DB (Bonner) and Sid (Colson) and Tosh (Howard), and putting that experience around us … that’s what’s going to really help us.”
Bonner, who joined the team after a decorated stint with Connecticut, praised Clark’s leadership and playmaking skills. “She’s a dynamic player. She just makes everyone around her better. Being on this side of the ball with her is a lot more fun than guarding her, that’s for sure,” Bonner said. Her presence, along with Howard’s, injects a sense of urgency and wisdom that the Fever desperately needed.
White’s return to the Fever, having previously led Indiana to the WNBA finals in 2015, marks a pivotal shift in the team’s culture and aspirations. Her philosophy centers on transparency and clarity in communication – an approach that has already resonated with her players. “It’s still a work in progress,” White said about the team’s chemistry. “The most important thing for myself and the team is communication. We all have the same goals here, and that’s to put ourselves in a position to compete for a championship.”
Clark echoed that sentiment, describing the locker room as a selfless, driven group. “Everybody is excited to be here … we all have the same goal that we want to achieve. Building those relationships with your teammates and being intentional about it is really important,” she said.
With Clark’s evolving leadership, Bonner and Howard’s championship mindset, and White’s structured philosophy, the Fever find themselves rapping on the door of the WNBA’s contender class. “We’re building our culture, and the one common thing in our locker room is everybody’s selfless. Everybody wants to win,” Clark emphasized. For a franchise seeking stability and success, that mindset might just be the key to turning promise into performance. With Clark’s physical transformation, the Fever’s offseason overhaul, and veteran additions that fortify their lineup, Indiana’s path to contention no longer seems distant. It feels inevitable.”
