The Fever now have FOUR of last season’s All-Stars in their starting line-up
CAITLIN CLARK and the Indiana Fever are shaping up to be serious WNBA title contenders next season.
This offseason the front office has made a series of moves that should see them take advantage of Clark’s metoric rise to superstardom.
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Caitlin Clark will be one of FOUR All-Stars in the Indiana Fever starting line up next seasonCredit: Getty
Last year, the Fever were the 6th (20-20) in the East but suffered a first round loss to the Connecticut Sun.
But now, thanks to Clark’s star power, they have made several upgrades – including signing the Sun All-Star DeWanna Bonner.
She led Connecticut in points and blocks last season and is a six-time All-Star, with fans now calling the Fever a “superteam”.
The veteran guard, 37, is now one of FOUR All-Stars from last season the Fever will have in a potential starting five.Reggie Miller abruptly absent from NBA on TNT live TV broadcast
Her star power means that Indiana is now able to compete with much larger markets for free agent signings.
Indiana also has the highest average attendance in the league – at 17,035 last season – double what Connecticut attracted.
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The team has also positioned itself to take advantage of next year’s expected free agency free-for-all, when the new $2.2 billion TV rights deal comes into place.
Most of the WNBA’s top players – bar those on rookie deals – will be free agents next summer in anticipation of record breaking salaries being handed out.
As well as Bonner, the likes of Kelsey Plum, Brittney Griner and Jewell Lloyd all signed one-year deals to keep all options open.
Teams have also cleared the decks to ensure they are in position to be in the race for top stars.
The Fever also went huge upheaval on the sidelines during the course of the offseason, including announcing a new $78 million practice facility in downtown Indiana.
Lin Dunn was moved out of the general manager role and made a senior adviros for the team, with Amber Cox coming in as the new COO and GM.
All-WNBA first and second team
THE 10 best players in the WNBA have been selected and named to the All-WNBA first and second team.
First team:
Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
Napheesa Collier – Minnesota Lynx
Breanna Stewart – New York Liberty
Alyssa Thomas – Connecticut Sun
A’ja Wilson – Las Vegas Aces
Second team:
Kahleah Copper – Phoenix Mercury
Sabrina Ionescu – New York Liberty
Jonquel Jones – New York Liberty
Arike Ogunbowale – Dallas Wings
Nneka Ogwumike – Seattle Storm
The Fever also fired former head coach Christie Sides and hired 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year Stephanie White.
She had previously played for the Fever and coached the team in 2015 and 2016, losing in the WNBA finals in her first season in charge.
The former Vanderbilt coach spent the last two seasons with the Conneticut Sun, where she went 55-25 in two seasons – the Sun did lose in the playoff semifinals in both years, however.
Both White and Cox were key recruiters of Bonner having worked with her previously – White with the Sun and Cox who had recruited her to the Phoenix Mercury.
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Indiana also made a win-now move at the WNBA draft, trading down from the 8th pick to pick up Sophie Cunningham and Jaelyn Brown.
The Fever now have the 19th, 20th and 33rd picks in the draft, which takes place on April 14.
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