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#ShrinkTheGame: 13 Days of WNBA
Day 6: Indiana Fever
Fred S
May 09, 2025
With just 13 days remaining until the official start of the WNBA season, I’ll be counting down with a daily mini preview of each of the league’s 13 teams. Stay tuned as we break down what to watch, who to watch, and what to expect from every squad.
Table of Contents
Training Camp and Preseason Reminder
Teams are inviting a ton of players to training camp to battle it out for roster spots. Each team can bring in up to 18 players, so expect to see a lot of additions over the next few days.
To stay updated on who’s in and out of camp, check out Across the Timeline and the WNBA Transaction page.
Now You Know
The Fever are on a mission this year to win a championship. They were cookin’ in the offseason, working not just to build a strong team around Caitlin Clark, but to strengthen the entire organization. Starting at the top, Linn Dunn stepped back from her role as GM and handed the reins to former Dallas Wings GM Amber Cox. Then came a coaching change: the Fever “parted ways” with the controversial Christy Sides and brought in former Indiana player and coach Stephanie White.
With this much-improved front office, the Fever got to work signing key players like DeWanna Bonner (2x champ), Syd Colson (2x champ), Natasha Howard (3x champ), Sophie Cunningham, and Brianna Turner. These vets bring playoff, Finals, and championship-winning experience that should make the team significantly better.
Of course, we all expect Caitlin Clark to take a huge leap in her sophomore season, especially with a full offseason of rest and weight training. Some folks already have her in the MVP conversation, but with A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier still dominating, we’ll see. A guard hasn’t won MVP since Diana Taurasi in 2009. I think CC will be the one to end that drought, but probably not this year. Then again, she might just ball out.
With this improved roster, I think the Fever will win a lot more games and definitely make the playoffs. They’ll be a fun team to watch—and you won’t miss them, because damn near all their games are nationally televised. Hopefully, this season can be all about hoops for the Fever.
What to Look Out For:
Aliyah Boston: Much like in the NBA, you can’t win a championship without an elite big, and the Fever’s title hopes rest on Aliyah just as much as they do on Caitlin Clark. Aliyah needs to be more aggressive, develop a reliable mid-range jumper, and stay out of foul trouble. I hate to keep bringing up the NBA, but she reminds me a lot of Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies. He’s a super talented big who can score and pass, though Aliyah rebounds way better, but he sometimes shrinks against other top bigs and hasn’t quite figured out how to avoid fouling out. We saw some growth from her during Unrivaled, but it also highlighted some of the same challenges. If Aliyah dominates this season, the Fever have a real shot not just at the second round, but at contending for a championship.
Kelsey Mitchell took an incredible leap last year, thanks in part to having more help and spacing with Caitlin Clark on the floor. I expect her to pick up right where she left off and continue being an offensive juggernaut for the team. If she stays healthy, the Fever’s supercharged offense will make them a tough team to beat.
Question Marks
Is Syd Colson a strong enough backup point guard for Caitlin Clark?
How effective will the Fever’s bench be?
Will the media ease up and stop drumming up unnecessary hate?
CAP SPACE $112,273
Free Agency and Roster Updates
Signed | Training Camp Contract | Waived/Traded | WNBA Draft Picks |
|---|---|---|---|
DeWanna Bonner- one-year deal for $200,000 | Round 1: | ||
Victoria Saxton, Kristy Wallace (contract suspended) | Round 2: #19 Makayla Timpson (Florida State), #20 Bree Hall (South Carolina) | ||
Kelsey Mitchell signed her core deal for the Supermax for $294,446 | NaLyssa Smith - traded to Dallas | Round 3: #33 Yvonne Ejim (Gonzaga) | |
Brianna Turner - $85,000 | Katie Lou Samuelson (contract buyout) | Undrafted Invite: |
The Coaches + Front Of House Staff
White spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Connecticut Sun, where she guided the team to consecutive WNBA Semifinals appearances and posted a record of 55-25 during that span. During the 2023 season, she was named WNBA Coach of the Year and the Associated Press Coach of the Year, as well as being named a head coach in the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game. She will enter 2025 with a combined 17 seasons of experience as a player and coach in the WNBA. Prior to Connecticut, she spent two seasons as the head coach of the Indiana Fever, compiling a 37-31 overall record and a 6-6 playoff record, including a trip to the 2015 WNBA Finals and a 2016 postseason berth. Prior to becoming a head coach for the Fever, White spent four seasons as an assistant coach (2011-14), most notably helping lead Indiana to its first WNBA Championship in 2012.
Briann January is returning to Indiana, the city and organization that drafted her, calling it her “second home” and expressing excitement about the opportunity to help bring another championship to the Fever. A standout from Arizona State University, January was selected sixth overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft and spent nine of her 14 seasons with Indiana. She also had stints with the Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Sun, and Seattle Storm. A 2014 WNBA All-Star, January transitioned into coaching after her playing career, serving as an assistant at ASU, with the Connecticut Sun under Stephanie White, and most recently with the Motor City Cruise in the NBA G League.
Karima Christmas-Kelly, an integral member of the 2012 WNBA Championship team for the Fever, returns to the bench as an Assistant Coach under White. Her tenure in Indiana is highlighted by a 2024 postseason appearance and producing back-to-back WNBA Rookie of the Year winners in Aliyah Boston (2023) and Caitlin Clark (2024). Christmas-Kelly’s extensive playing history in the WNBA spanned from 2011 to 2020, including 2012 to 2014 with Indiana.
Austin Kelly most recently served as an Assistant Coach with the Connecticut Sun in 2023 and 2024 under White’s leadership, helping guide the team to the WNBA Semifinals both seasons. Previously, Kelly was the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the University of Texas Arlington women’s basketball team from 2021 to 2023. During the 2021-22 season, the Lady Mavericks won the Sun Belt Tournament Championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Porter was most recently the Player Development Coach with the Connecticut Sun (2023-24), during which time he worked with current Fever Head Coach Stephanie White and played a key role in the development of All-WNBA First-Team member Alyssa Thomas, WNBA All-Stars DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones, and WNBA Most Improved Player Dijonai Carrington.
Hoops & Hype: Media Picks
@indianafever golly 😂 #reflex #game #reaction #indianafever
@indianafever Caitlin Clark is mic'd up for today's exhibition matchup against Brazil 🎤 #wnba #indianafever #caitlinclark #mic
Check out some of the cool podcasts, videos, reads, and fashion I saw this week.
