Caitlin Clark makes clear statement over Indiana Fever’s $400,000 decision to help reach WNBA finals

THE Indiana Fever are beefing up their roster to make a title run with Caitlin Clark.

Clark’s arrival helped the Fever return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

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The Fever lost in the first round of the 2024 playoffs, getting swept by the Connecticut Suns, but they don’t seem content with being one-and-done.

Indiana signed 15-year veteran DeWanna Bonner to a one year contract to start the offseason.

She is a six-time All Star and two-time WNBA Champion, and previously played on the Suns team that eliminated the Fever last season.

Bonner averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, and two assists in 2024.

The Fever also signed 10-year veteran Natasha Howard from the Dallas Wings.

Howard is a two-time All Star and three-time WNBA Champion.

She averaged 17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 2024.

Both players signed for one-year, $200,000 deals. That is just below the league’s $250,000 max contract.

The Fever held an introductory press conference for Bonner on Monday, and Clark shared her opinion about the team’s moves.

“We didn’t really have much experience at all playing in playoff games [last year],” Clark said.

“Adding pieces, players that have been in this league—they know what it takes to win, they know what it takes to get to the Finals, they know what it takes to win championships—I think it’s exactly what we needed in our locker room.”

Bonner and Howard have a combined 140 games of playoff experience under their belts.

The Fever had just 19 games of playoff experienced combined between the whole team heading into the playoffs last year.

Bonner shared her confidence in the Fever’s core of young plyers by saying she wants to “win another championship.”

Indiana is showing their commitment to building a winning team in the Fever by investing heavily in the team.

WNBA All-Star rosters

THE 2024 WNBA All-Star game rosters have been announced, with Team WNBA set to face Team USA on July 20.

Team WNBA:

DeWanna Bonner – Connecticut SunAliyah Boston – Indiana FeverCaitlin Clark – Indiana FeverAllisha Gray – Atlanta DreamDearica Hamby – Los Angeles SparksBrionna Jones – Connecticut SunJonquel Jones – New York LibertyKayla McBride – Minnesota LynxKelsey Mitchell – Indiana FeverArike Ogunbowale – Dallas WingsNneka Ogwumike – Seattle StormAngel Reese – Chicago Sky

Team USA:

Napheesa Collier – Minnesota LynxKahleah Copper – Phoenix MercuryChelsea Gray – Las Vegas AcesBrittney Griner – Phoenix MercurySabrina Ionescu – New York LibertyJewell Loyd – Seattle StormKelsey Plum – Las Vegas AcesBreanna Stewart – New York LibertyDiana Taurasi – Phoenix MercuryAlyssa Thomas – Connecticut SunA’ja Wilson – Las Vegas AcesJackie Young – Las Vegas Aces

The franchise announced plans for a $78 million training center in downtown Indianapolis that will open in 2027.

Clark praised the Fever’s ownership group for their willingness to invest in the team despite being in a smaller market.

“This is the franchise in all of women’s sports, I say,” Clark said.

“No matter what sport it is… I think the next few years are going to be amazing for this franchise, and will continue to be for hopefully ten-plus years and hopefully we win a few championships.”

The Fever now have a competitive roster with the likes of Clark, Howard, Bonner, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston likely making up the starting five.

This mix of a young core and veteran leadership could lead to a deep playoff run.