The Indiana Fever enter the 2026 WNBA season with legitimate expectations and championship hype.
That’s what can happen when star guard Caitlin Clark returns to health and returning anchor Aliyah Boston has committed long-term to the Fever franchise. These two pillars lead a deep team that figures to repeat as one of the WNBA’s best offenses — and will hope to go one further to the WNBA Finals after a semifinal exit in 2025, with Clark among those missing out through injury.
But the Fever do have a concern that the league’s other elite teams — the teams Indiana will have to overcome to win a first championship in 14 years — can exploit over the course of a 44-game season.
MORE: Fever coach reveals Caitlin Clark concern level after injury scare
Placing fourth in ESPN’s initial power rankings for the long season ahead, few would argue that the Fever’s offensive potential is through the roof now that Clark is healthy again. While there has been debate on how to maximize the two-time All-Star offensively, the defensive side of the ball is not ever likely to be Clark’s calling card.
“The Fever ranked No. 8 in points allowed per game (81.5) last season and No. 9 in opponent’s field goal percentage (44.9),” Kareem Copeland wrote in ESPN. “As dynamic as that backcourt is offensively, Clark and Mitchell are not considered top-notch defenders.”
However, the Fever took steps to address this relative weakness during the draft and free agency.
Indiana signed Monique Billings and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough as free agents before taking Raven Johnson with the 10th overall pick in last month’s rookie draft. Those additions — along with All-Defense selection Boston on the interior — could well transform the Fever defense into one of the top five or six units in the league.
That jump may not sound massive. But a defense in the top-third of the league to back an offense that many expect will be in the top three in efficiency? That’s a possible championship-winning formula in Indy.
