WNBA: After a much-needed break, what’s subsequent for Caitlin Clark, Fever?

In simply 5 residence video games, the Indiana Fever have surpassed final season’s attendance whole. Requested earlier than of the season about whether or not he has seen the same improve in ticket gross sales throughout such a brief time period, StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli mentioned:

Completely. When a star participant will get traded or indicators elsewhere and even simply on the highway, for instance when the Lakers are on the highway and other people need to see LeBron James, we see a considerably increased common tickets bought. That will be a technique to take a look at it. Or when Kevin Durant was traded to the Suns, you noticed a large improve in ticket gross sales and pleasure in the neighborhood to have a generational participant like him. Nonetheless, what we’ve seen thus far with Caitlin Clark has been very distinctive.

Photograph by Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Pictures

The achievement makes it much more disappointing that the Fever aren’t enjoying as much as par. Particularly on the defensive finish. Indiana is permitting essentially the most factors per recreation (90.5) and are final in defensive ranking (114.3). Each can be forgivable if their offense may compensate. Nonetheless, they’re ninth in factors per recreation (77.4) and tenth in offensive ranking (97.8). As a way to shore up the protection, head coach Christie Sides moved NaLyssa Smith and Katie Lou Samuelson to the bench in favor of Temi Fagbenle and Kristy Wallace.

That didn’t resolve the staff’s defensive woes, and Smith returned to the beginning lineup after Fagbenle’s foot harm. For the reason that staff isn’t going wherever, Sides may think about giving extra minutes to Lexie Hull and rookie Celeste Taylor. Hull has appeared in seven video games, enjoying lower than 10 minutes on common. However throughout that restricted time, she’s taken on the hardest perimeter defensive task and held her personal. Taylor was chosen one of the best defensive participant in her convention twice throughout her NCAA profession, averaging two steals per recreation throughout her 5 seasons of school basketball. She did that on three totally different groups in three totally different conferences, enjoying in numerous programs and for various coaches. Sure, the WNBA is a very totally different animal than the NCAA, however Taylor already has confirmed that she’s adaptable.

The offensive points appear even tougher to unravel. Other than lacking open photographs—made attainable because of Caitlin Clark getting blitzed by defenses, which frees up alternatives for different gamers—the Fever have issues attending to the road. And it has nothing to do with toughness, however fairly technique. As a substitute of attacking the basket, the staff depends closely on 3s, firing 24.3 makes an attempt from behind the arc per recreation. This explains why the Fever are tenth in free throw makes an attempt with 16.5 per recreation.

Over their subsequent six video games, the Fever will face the Mystics twice, the Dream twice, the Solar and the Sky. Connecticut is a a lot superior staff, however Indiana needs to be aggressive towards the opposite three, and, hopefully, discover some wins.