As was widely expected for months, Caitlin Clark was drafted No. 1 overall in Monday night’s WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.
If you’re reading this, then you probably know all about Clark – the guard from Iowa who shattered scoring records and helped set new marks and create growth in viewership and audience for women’s college basketball while she played for the Hawkeyes. Clark scored 3,951 points in four seasons at Iowa, making her the all-time leading scorer in the history of Division I college basketball, for men or women. Clark scored more points than legends of the sport like LSU’s Pete Maravich and Lynette Woodard of Kansas. And Iowa’s national championship loss to South Carolina drew 18.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s basketball game on record.
Clark and her peers – from Angel Reese to Cameron Brink to Paige Bueckers to Kamilla Cardoso – drew new fans to the sport of women’s basketball. Perhaps you’re one of them. And perhaps tuning into a Fever team featuring Clark will be the first time you’re watching the WNBA closely.
For new fans, or those in need of a refresher, here’s a crash course on the Indiana Fever, Clark’s new team:
The team already has a blossoming star in Aliyah Boston
This was the second straight year that the Fever had the No. 1 overall pick. Last year, they selected South Carolina center Aliyah Boston, and she became the league’s Rookie of the Year after averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Boston – who, like Clark, was a National Player of the Year in college – was also voted to the WNBA All-Star team last year. And, like Clark, she was invited to participate in the Team USA training camp earlier this month ahead of the Summer Olympics.
The two players are familiar with each other. Boston’s final college game was a Final Four loss to Clark and Iowa in Dallas last year. And Boston was working in the NBC Peacock studios offering analysis the night that Clark broke the NCAA scoring record. Boston was also working for ESPN at this year’s national championship, when her Gamecocks bested Clark for the title.
Indiana hopes that Boston and Clark form a dynamic duo.
The Fever have struggled for a while
Sep 20, 2013; Rosemont, IL, USA; Indiana Fever head coach Lin Dunn during the first half of the first round of the WNBA playoffs against the Chicago Sky at Allstate Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Despite Boston’s success last season, the team went just 13-27.
The Fever haven’t been to the postseason since 2016 and haven’t had a winning record since 2015.
It’s a team that does have real history though. In 2012, Indiana won the WNBA Finals with Lin Dunn’s coaching and Tamika Catchings’ playing leading the way. Dunn retired from being a head coach in 2014 and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame the same year. After spending six seasons assisting Matthew Mitchell at Kentucky, she returned to the Fever in 2022 to become the team’s general manager.
Here’s who else is on the team
Grace Berger, Emma Cannon and Victoria Vivians celebrate after Berger made a basket during their game against the New York Liberty Wednesday, July 12, 2023 in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Aside from Boston and Clark, the Fever roster also features:
- Grace Berger, Guard, Indiana
- Maya Caldwell, Guard, Georgia
- Emma Cannon, Forward, Florida Southern College
- Lexie Hull, Guard, Stanford
- Kelsey Mitchell, Guard, Ohio State
- Victaria Saxton, Forward, South Carolina
- NaLyssa Smith, Forward, Baylor
- Victoria Vivians, Guard, Mississippi State
- Kristy Wallace, Guard, Baylor
- Erica Wheeler, Guard, Rutgers
- Amanda Zahui B, Center, Minnesota
When’s the Fever’s first game?
May 19, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Connecticut Sun center Brionna Jones (42) shoots the ball while Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Fever open the season with a Commissioner’s Cup game at the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
And the Fever will be on TV quite a lot
Apr 15, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Caitlin Clark before the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The WNBA announced earlier this month that the Fever are going to play 36 of their 40 regular season games on national TV. Indiana’s first four games will be on ABC, ESPN or Amazon Prime. One to circle is the Fever’s June 30 game against the Phoenix Mercury at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN. Clark going against Diana Taurasi will be must-watch.
