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The Indiana Fever made huge moves to bolster their roster ahead of the 2025 WNBA season. They added free agent DeWanna Bonner from the Connecticut Sun, Sophia Cunningham from the Phoenix Mercury and three-time WNBA champion Natasha Howard. The team also re-signed Kelsey Mitchell, one of its biggest stars from last season.
WNBA analyst Gary Striewski believes the Fever are now title favorites. On Tuesday’s episode of “The Elle Duncan Show,” Striewski discussed Indiana’s title credentials and listed reasons why the Fever are contenders.
He pointed out that the Fever have solved their problems from last season, which included weaknesses in the rotation. He added that the allure of playing with Caitlin Clark has attracted veteran free agents, allowing the Fever to address the inexperience on their roster. He also explained that the Fever have players, including Bonner, who are familiar with Stephanie White, who coached the perennial contender Connecticut Sun in the past two years.
“Definitely you mentioned what they were missing, which was a lot of things, both tangible and intangible, size, depth and experience, they checked every single one of those boxes,” he said [5:30].
“I like everything about this. Now you have established veteran pieces that aren’t just, you know, those bench coaches,” he added. “I’m thinking DeWanna Bonner chose Indiana just as much for the prospect and the allure of playing with Caitlin Clark right there, equivalent to that is playing with a coach in a system that she had success with in Connecticut, Steph White,” he added.
Bonner and other new players are expected to boost the Fever roster around Caitlin Clark, who steered the team to their first playoff appearance since 2016. The Fever finished the regular season with a 20-20 win-loss record.
Caitlin Clark on Fever’s offseason moves
During her jersey retirement ceremony in Iowa, Caitlin Clark discussed the Fever’s recent additions. She expressed her excitement about what is in store for her and the team.
“I’m excited…Obviously, we made some great moves. I think Kelly and Amber and the whole Fever organization are helping us win now, and I think that’s really important. I think they’re putting really good pieces together that are going to complement each other really, really well.”
Clark also lauded the addition of Stephanie White and said she hopes to quickly create a bond ahead of the 2025 WNBA season.
“Steph taking over as head coach for us, I think is going to be really great… A great basketball mind, somebody that actually called quite a few of my college games,” Clark said.
White replaced Christie Sides, who called the shots for the Fever in the last two seasons.
Edited by nagpaltusharn25
