Currently, there are more questions than answers regarding the 2026 WNBA season.
One thing is certain, though: The Indiana Fever will be one of the most fascinating teams to watch. (And you’ll be able to do so, as all 44 of their games are on national TV.)
They are at the epicenter of women’s basketball culture, not only overflowing with intriguing storylines but also oozing so much star power and talent that they could win it all.
The heights this team can reach will not be determined this spring, but we begin to get clues about their championship upside. So, here are three aspects to keep an eye on with the Fever during training camp and in preseason action.
What Indiana’s year will be like will depend on how well Caitlin Clark plays. Last season, Clark’s year was cut short due to a groin injury, but now she’s back and ready to play.
a look into CC's film cam at media day 🎞️🗄️ pic.twitter.com/qBe22Tm0yT
During her rookie season, Clark averaged 19.2 points per game and converted on 34 percent of her 3-point attempts. If she can take her play to another level, the Fever move into another category and become legit title contenders.
In that first year, Clark was the sun, and her teammates revolved around her. She held the ball and got the offense started most of the time. That’s a lot to ask of a rookie playing in a league as tough and physical as the WNBA. Overall, she did well, but there were times when defenders got the better of her, and moments when it looked like the fatigue of constantly bringing the ball up caught up with her.
This year, there’s an opportunity for her operate more frequently off the ball, especially if players like first-round draft pick Raven Johnson can demonstrate the ability to run the offense during preseason. Clark discussed how exhausting it is to play so much on-ball during her media availability this week.
Caitlin Clark on playing off the ball: “It is exhausting bringing the ball up the floor 94 feet versus pressure every single time, so we certainly need to find someone who can handle the ball … I think Raven and Ty, even other people through camp, have done a great job.” pic.twitter.com/9NCRxZepEW
Without Clark, the Fever were a formidable team last year. They beat the Dream in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual-champion Aces in five-game semifinal series, when they pushed Vegas to overtime in the series finale.
While that was a gutsy team effort, now the Fever will have their own ace in Clark, ready and available. And if she’s as good as people think she is, they should be in the running for a title in 2026.
Overall, the core from the Fever last year is back. But can everyone co-exist with Clark returning?
This might sound ridiculous, but it can become a problem.
Aliyah Boston is a post player who needs her touches to excel. Last year, she attempted 11.5 shots per game, which was a career high. In Clark’s absence, Kelsey Mitchell stepped up and was an All-Star player and made All-WNBA First Team.
Mitchell, like Boston, also had a career high in field goal attempts with 9.3 per game.
20-pieces from Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell last night ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/RgMJ30cmdp
If the biggest problem the Fever have is that there is just one ball, then that’s a good problem to have. However, even good problems are problems.
Indiana has to figure out how to have these three All-Stars co-exist in perfect harmony. That’s a difficult thing to master on the fly.
The Fever will most certainly be using training camp and preseason games to try and master the mathematics of this tricky equation. Yet, it’ll likely be a year-long work in progress and one of the most important things head coach Stephanie White will have to figure out.