When the WNBA season began, things were not looking promising for the Indiana Fever. They came off drafting first overall, which usually indicates they’re a long way from contention. Indiana lost their first five games of the season, and eight of the first nine overall.
Fever head coach Christie Sides talked about the gauntlet they had to endure during the first month of the season.
She told Fieldhouse Files website, “I don’t know if I’ve experienced anything like it ever in my 12 years of coaching in this league. Just that grind of a schedule. And two back-to-backs against the two best teams in the league… it’s just tough.”
Despite the initial adversity the team faced, Indiana was able to climb out of a deep early hole. Caitlin Clark told Fox Sports Radio in June, “Nobody ever hung our heads. We had the hardest schedule to start.
We didn’t get to practice much and we’re playing with the most inexperienced team in the WNBA… I think this group is starting to click and build some chemistry.”
While it would be great for every team to have a smooth path to the championship, it doesn’t always work that way. Somewhere along the line, teams hit a speed bump and have to come together to get through it.
Of course, the main reason why the sports world is focused on the Fever is Caitlin Clark, who has shown why she was taken with the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She’s provided a well-rounded game that gives Indiana what they need on any given night.