Caitlin Clark's winter transformation has the Indiana Fever dreaming big
The hype kicked off with a single photograph. In March, during the Big Ten women's basketball tournament in Indianapolis, a shot of Caitlin Clark cheering from the sidelines, arms flexed, muscles defined, went viral and sparked conversation across social media. 'There's been much ado about her guns,' said Amber Cox, the Fever's chief operating officer. Even the team staff took notice. 'She was obviously very proud of it,' added Sarah Kessler, Indiana's head athletic performance coach. 'We did have a chuckle about it, though, because it garnered more attention than we realized it would.'
That viral image wasn't just a flash of vanity; it was evidence of Clark's offseason grind. For the first time since the summer of 2023, she had the time and space to focus entirely on building her body for the rigors of the WNBA. 'I don't know the last time I've had an athlete in the W, or even on the men's side, really, where you have a consistent four- to five-month period where you get to just work together,' Kessler said. The main goal? Adding muscle. Clark embraced that challenge with characteristic tenacity. 'I've had athletes who have said that, and then maybe when the work component shows up to actually achieve those goals, that's where there's maybe a disconnect,' Kessler noted. 'But with Caitlin, she set those goals, and from the jump, I was seeing her in the weight room four to five times a week.'
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Related: WNBA 2025 season predictions: Can anyone topple the New York Liberty?
The Indiana Fever are no longer just a team of distant promise. With Clark at the helm, they're transforming into something far more formidable entering her sophomore season, an evolution that begins with the strength she added over the winter.
That work faces its first real test on Saturday. Indiana open their season at home against the Chicago Sky and Angel Reese, marking the first of five meetings between the two teams this year. Reese, like Clark, is coming off a stellar rookie season that helped drive record ratings and attendance for the WNBA. Their head-to-head battle is among the marquee matchups of opening weekend, offering a glimpse into the league's bright future. 'Rivalries are real, and that's what makes sports so amazing,' Clark said. 'There's certain teams that those games just mean a little bit more. [We] come out here and play the same way every night, but [a rivalry] gets the fans involved, and they love it.'
Clark's rapid development has been a revelation to head coach Stephanie White, who returned to Indiana this offseason after a successful stint with Connecticut. 'There was a lot thrown at Caitlin from day one – new league, new players, everybody's bigger, faster, stronger,' White said. 'But she's incredibly hardworking and a high IQ player. She wants to get better.' The oddsmakers seem to agree: Clark has been installed as the favorite to win Most Valuable Player this season, underscoring just how transformative her offseason work is expected to be.
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Clark herself acknowledged that adjusting to the physicality of the WNBA was the biggest hurdle in her rookie season, one that opponents exploited. This time around, she's determined to flip the narrative. 'Going into year two, I feel like I have experience in this league. I know what to expect. I know how training camp works ... just having that experience of how things operate has provided me with a lot of confidence,' she said.
That confidence was evident during the Fever's 81-76 preseason win over the Atlanta Dream, where Clark's newfound strength was immediately apparent. She moved with ease, her trademark deep threes looking even more effortless. Her drives to the basket were powered by strength she didn't have last season, and the velocity on her passes mirrored the work she put in over the winter. 'It seems like she may have even increased her three-point range,' one observer noted. 'Her logo bombs were on display, and the ease with which she launched them was striking.'
The Fever underwent a significant roster overhaul during the offseason, with general manager Kelly Krauskopf and head coach Amber Stocks prioritizing veteran leadership. Bonner, Howard and Sydney Colson were brought in to infuse the roster with experience and championship pedigree. 'I think the main thing we were lacking last year was experience,' Clark noted. 'Adding really great vets like DB (Bonner) and Sid (Colson) and Tosh (Howard), and putting that experience around us … that's what's going to really help us.'
Bonner, who joined the team after a decorated stint with Connecticut, praised Clark's leadership and playmaking skills. 'She's a dynamic player. She just makes everyone around her better. Being on this side of the ball with her is a lot more fun than guarding her, that's for sure,' Bonner said. Her presence, along with Howard's, injects a sense of urgency and wisdom that the Fever desperately needed.
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White's return to the Fever, having previously led Indiana to the WNBA finals in 2015, marks a pivotal shift in the team's culture and aspirations. Her philosophy centers on transparency and clarity in communication – an approach that has already resonated with her players. 'It's still a work in progress,' White said about the team's chemistry. 'The most important thing for myself and the team is communication. We all have the same goals here, and that's to put ourselves in a position to compete for a championship.'
Clark echoed that sentiment, describing the locker room as a selfless, driven group. 'Everybody is excited to be here … we all have the same goal that we want to achieve. Building those relationships with your teammates and being intentional about it is really important,' she said.
With Clark's evolving leadership, Bonner and Howard's championship mindset, and White's structured philosophy, the Fever find themselves rapping on the door of the WNBA's contender class. 'We're building our culture, and the one common thing in our locker room is everybody's selfless. Everybody wants to win,' Clark emphasized. For a franchise seeking stability and success, that mindset might just be the key to turning promise into performance. With Clark's physical transformation, the Fever's offseason overhaul, and veteran additions that fortify their lineup, Indiana's path to contention no longer seems distant. It feels inevitable.'
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17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
OKC Thunder wills its way to Game 4 win vs Pacers, evens NBA Finals
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38 minutes ago
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Why committing fouls is a necessary evil for Thunder's league-best defense
This moment was created for Lu Dort. Protecting a one-point lead with under two and a half minutes remaining in what amounted to a do-or-die Game 4, the Oklahoma City Thunder's brawny firecracker stayed on brand, picking up Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton full-court. Such is Dort's forte. Haliburton proceeded with caution, avoiding the breakneck pace that Indiana tormented opposing defenses with all year. Before getting to half court, he pitched the ball ahead to Pascal Siakam, but getting rid of the rock did not get rid of Dort. Advertisement Dort watched the ball traverse over his noggin but did not divert his focus from Haliburton. Like an NFL cornerback in press coverage at the line of scrimmage, he jammed Haliburton at half court, extending two hands into the All-NBA guard's chest. The contact halted any forward progress and forced Haliburton to run east or west to get the ball. Haliburton still hoped to go north-south. But Dort, per usual, slid himself in the way. The press coverage at the half-court line allowed the Thunder's All-Defensive First Team guard to get between Haliburton and Siakam as they tried a dribble handoff. The purpose of the action was to slingshot the Pacers' offensive engine downhill toward the rim. But Dort plowed through the 6-foot-8 forward like he wasn't even there. He crowded Haliburton as he received the ball. Haliburton could not turn the corner, so he kicked it back to Siakam and let his teammate probe Oklahoma City's defense on the other side of the floor. As the Pacers worked their pass-heavy offense from side to side, Dort denied Haliburton from getting the ball back in his hands, which encouraged Haliburton to retreat out to the half-court line. And there, Haliburton and Dort stood and waited as the Pacers looked for a shot with just over two minutes remaining in Friday's match, an eventual Thunder victory that tied the NBA Finals at two games apiece. 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So the Thunder live with the fouls, not because they are impossible to fix, but because they are a product of their success. 'A lot of times, they just let us rock,' Williams said. 'If we have fouls that we can learn from or we're trying to do the right thing and we foul, we try to learn from those, but they try not to get too involved because it's part of our identity a little bit.' — The Athletic's Sam Amick contributed to this story.
USA Today
an hour ago
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Lynx vs. Aces odds, tips and betting trends - 6/17/2025
Lynx vs. Aces odds, tips and betting trends - 6/17/2025 The Minnesota Lynx (10-1) host the Las Vegas Aces (5-5) one game after Napheesa Collier put up 32 points in the Lynx's 101-78 victory over the Sparks. This matchup airs on Vegas 34 and FDSN at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Minnesota defeated Los Angeles 101-78 at home last time out, and were led by Collier (32 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 81.3 FG%, 3-4 from 3PT) and Courtney Williams (17 PTS, 60.0 FG%, 3-4 from 3PT). Las Vegas fell to Phoenix 76-70 at home last time out, and were led by Chelsea Gray (20 PTS, 10 REB, 47.1 FG%) and Jewell Loyd (17 PTS, 54.5 FG%, 3-8 from 3PT). Before this matchup, here's everything you need to get ready for Tuesday's WNBA action. Watch the WNBA on Fubo! Minnesota Lynx vs. Las Vegas Aces odds and betting lines WNBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 6:05 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Spread: Lynx (-8.5) Lynx (-8.5) Over/under: 163.5 163.5 Favorite: Lynx (-426, bet $426 to win $100) Lynx (-426, bet $426 to win $100) Underdog: Aces (+320, bet $100 to win $320) Lynx moneyline insights The Lynx have won 10 of the 11 games they were favored on the moneyline this season (90.9%). Minnesota has played six games as a moneyline favorite with odds of -426 or shorter, and won them all. The implied moneyline probability for this matchup gives the Lynx an 81.0% chance to win. Minnesota's 11 games this season have gone over this contest's total of 163.5 points five times. The average point total in Lynx games this season is 161.0, 2.5 points fewer than this matchup's over/under. Aces moneyline insights The Aces have lost both games they've played as underdogs this season. Las Vegas has not entered a game this season as a bigger underdog on the moneyline than the +320 odds on it winning this game. The Aces have a 23.8% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline. The Aces have played five games this season that have had more than 163.5 combined points scored. Las Vegas has a 165.1-point average over/under in its matchups this season, 1.6 more points than this game's total. Lynx vs. Aces: Game time and info Game day: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Game time: 8 p.m. ET 8 p.m. ET Stadium: Target Center Target Center TV channel: Vegas 34 and FDSN Watch the WNBA on Fubo!
