The Indiana Fever have made mediocrity a habit. On paper, they are a championship team. Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell are the big three that can scare any team in the league. Yet, after eight games, they remain at 0.500. Now, a WNBA analyst has pointed out one change that the Fever must make to become true contenders. 

“I think that for the Fever to win a championship, Caitlin Clark cannot be bigger than that franchise,” Annie Costabile said on the ‘No Offseason’ podcast. “What I mean by that is not that she can’t be everything that’s expected of a generational talent.

“What I mean is what’s circulating around Caitlin cannot overtake the franchise.”

The real red flags for the Indiana Fever were visible in the 16-point loss to the Portland Fire. Clark was held to just 6 points and 6 assists as the Fever showed no fight after that 8-2 start vanished. That was simply not the team any Indiana Fever fan expected. The Clark-Stephanie White argument that went viral only raised tensions further. The two have denied any friction, but the incident and the reaction to it sparked a polarizing hot take from Costabile. 

Costabile clarified that Clark can be the generational talent for the franchise, much like A’ja Wilson, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, or Sue Bird have been for their respective teams.

Caitlin Clark has been the face of the WNBA ever since she stepped into it. Her popularity was once way ahead of the entire league, let alone the franchise. She has elevated the Fever on and off the court to fill their seats, sell merchandise, and make them the third-most valuable franchise in the league in terms of worth. 

But if Clark turns out to be bigger than the franchise, the fans could hesitate in asking for accountability from her. Her stardom could overshadow her faults among the Fever faithful. Some could deflect responsibility to her teammates or the coach, and the narrative would be biased and Clark-centered rather than focusing on improving the team.

The locker room dynamics could also be affected in the future. Clark already receives plenty of attention after the win, but if that were amplified, it could potentially make others feel under-appreciated. Plus, it could bring in a lot more negativity. Costabile explained how.

“Every single thing Caitlin does is not only under a microscope, but it’s broadcast for everybody to see,” Costabile added. “Whether it’s deserved or not, that’s something she has to carry, and it has to impact the way she moves to a certain degree.”

And none of it is her fault. She is already going through a tough time trusting her body after multiple soft tissue injuries last year. Clark even admitted to some mental health issues with the repeated injuries. 

The outside voices just make the situation messier. The Fever gets a commercial advantage from pushing Clark, but they should control it for the team’s sake. The team was looking disjointed in their latest loss to the Fire, and Sophie Cunningham has called out her teammates for a strong comeback. 

Sophie Cunningham calls for toughness amid the Indiana Fever’s push for a turnaround

Stephanie White and Sophie Cunningham want to leave behind the 16-point loss to the Portland Fire. They want to have it in their rearview mirror as soon as possible, and the Commissioner’s Cup is the perfect opportunity to do so. They won it last year, defeating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the finals. With this positive history, Cunningham is calling for a change.

“We have all the pieces, and now we just have to put the puzzle together. I think each year has growing pains, and we’re in that right now. Like I said, we have all the pieces we need, but it’s about owning your role, knowing your role, and being tough,” Cunningham said on Tuesday. “We’re just too soft right now, and that’s not what our identity is. We need to get away from that.”

Fever struggled with the physicality in both of their games against the Fire and the Valkyries. They forced the Fever to play a different kind of basketball than usual.

Caitlin Clark and Co. struggled from the three-point line. The Fever needs to change that if they want to defeat the high-flying Dream. 

Atlanta is 6-2, with the latest win coming against the Sun. They are the second-best defense in the league. To go through that dynamic lineup featuring Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray, the Fever and Caitlin Clark will need to do their best.