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    • Fever’s future looks bright thanks to a strong core, but the squad needs more help.
    Enterprise

    Fever’s future looks bright thanks to a strong core, but the squad needs more help.

    Idris Bevan Posted on

    INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever’s “Big 3” of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston led the franchise to its first postseason appearance since 2016.

    Clark exceeded expectations despite intense scrutiny and attention the likes of which the WNBA has never seen before. The former No. 1 pick out of Boston has become a fixture in the post and Mitchell will get a chance to showcase her talents alongside other star players, though her return is far from certain given her impending free agent appearance.

    The core of the Fever appears to be in place, but the secondary parts are far from set in stone. One of the presumed core players, former No. 2 overall pick NaLyssa Smith, was benched in favor of veteran Temi Fagbenle before Wednesday’s crucial second game against the Connecticut Sun. Smith struggled as a substitute, holding no points and three rebounds in the 87-81 loss, and posted a team-worst rating of -12 +/- in just four minutes of play.

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    Fagbenle gave the Fever a boost in the second half, sinking a three-pointer in the fourth quarter to cut Indiana’s deficit to two points with 4:54 left in the game. Fagbenle finished with nine points and nine rebounds. Her agility and length make her a great addition to the Fever’s up-tempo offense, and her play earned her the trust of the Indiana coaching staff.

    “Temi has done a great job,” Fever coach Christie Sides said. “What she brings to us is her speed. She can run out in transition, which means that when you’re defending Temi and you’re trying to get an offensive rebound, what you’re really thinking is, ‘I better get backed up,’ because Temi is about to run and we have defenders that are going to hit her on the run.

    “When you get to the playoffs and you’re in an elimination game, you have to figure out what to do differently. And I thought she did a great job for us. Defensively, her length and her speed, her agility, her experienced presence out there just did a great job for us.”

    Getting Fagbenle into the starting lineup was necessary for the Fever, but it’s unclear if the 32-year-old will play a key role for the team long-term. Injuries prevented her from earning a permanent spot in the starting lineup. She suffered three injuries this season, including one to her thumb and shoulder, limiting her to only 22 regular-season games.

    play

    Christie Sides on changes to the Fever’s lineup in the elimination game

    Temi Fagbenle started in place of NaLyssa Smith in Indiana’s second loss to Connecticut as the Fever looked to pick up the pace.

    Guard Lexie Hull has also worked her way into the starting lineup after beginning the season as a reverse. After the Olympic break, she hit 65% of her threes, giving the Fever another reliable outside threat. She finished the regular season shooting a career-high 47.1% of her threes, a significant improvement from the 20% she made in her first two seasons. But the third-year guard struggled during the playoffs, hitting just 1 of 7 threes. Reserves Erica Wheeler and Damiris Dantas are reliable veterans, but not long-term players.

    The Fever will need to find another player, either off the bench or in the starting lineup, if they want to advance in the playoffs and take pressure off their Big 3. The experienced Sun could give the Fever the blueprint to build a strong playoff roster. DiJonai Carrington was selected 20th overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft. The former Baylor player started just three games in three years before becoming a fixture in the Sun’s starting lineup and earning the 2024 Most Improved Player award. Marina Mabrey moved from the bench to the starting lineup for Game 2 as starting guard Ty Harris was out with an ankle injury. Mabrey scored 17 points and the Sun got big contributions off the bench from Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Veronica Burton, who finished with plus/minus ratings of +17 and +10, respectively.

    “We knew she was going to be a difference maker for us,” Sun forward Aylssa Thomas said of Mabrey. “She’s another defender for us who can create and isn’t afraid of the moment. Unfortunately, Ty is out with the ankle injury, but when you have someone like her coming in off the bench, she’s a total hit.”

    “She just came in and was a great teammate and did whatever needed to be done, whether she was coming off the bench or starting. We’re definitely happy to have her on our side.”

    The Fever need to find a player like Mabrey, someone who can come off the bench or start when needed and provide consistent performance. Katie Lou Samuelson was expected to be a consistent scorer for the Fever. She started 15 games before getting injured and being replaced in the lineup by Hull. She has a career hitting percentage of 33% and, at 27, may still be young enough to take her game to a new level. Former IU star Grace Berger played sparingly after being selected No. 7 in the 2023 draft. Her playing time has dropped after a solid rookie season, but roster shuffles could allow her to compete for more playing time next season.

    “We definitely have the tools to have some great years ahead of us. … We’re always looking for the next step we need to take to get these guys ready,” Sides said. “We want to make sure they’re ready for anything.”

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    Idris Bevan
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