The Indiana Fever is showing cracks beyond a slow start. They sit at 4–5, battling to stay within reach of a playoff spot in a fiercely competitive Eastern Conference. Their return to contention last year seemed like a turning point, but this season’s defensive slide tells a different story. After posting their best defensive numbers in years last season, they still trail the Liberty in defensive prowess and are losing close contests more often than not.

They’ve spent seven straight seasons ranking in the bottom two defensively — it’s an institutional weakness, not a temporary slump. Off-season moves, including adding veteran defenders like DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, were meant to fix this. Yet the early-season games suggest that while these players can compete, the team still struggles to execute consistently. Without a quarterback to orchestrate it, namely Caitlin Clark, the team’s defensive discipline collapses under its own potential.

And now, Clark’s return is imminent, but the question remains: Can she solve a foundational problem? Even last season, the Fever’s defensive issues limited their ceiling, contributing to a first-round playoff exit. The concern isn’t just about wins or losses; it’s about culture, habits, and whether one superstar can override years of systemic underperformance. That’s why reporters like Tony East, on Locked on Women’s Basketball, emphasize the tension between Clark’s playmaking and a wounded identity, a team trying to find its way forward, with or without her.

“They have certainly built a team in a style that is what her strengths are,” he began. “But every player that doesn’t fit their offense perfectly that they added this free agency period, is a good defender. Or can add something on that end of the floor that could get them into transition and it just wasn’t there all the time for them.”

Bonner, Howard, and center Aliyah Boston, who made her first All-Star appearance last season, were meant to anchor that defensive shift. Head coach Christie Sides challenged her group to be more physical and aggressive, trusting that this would ease the scoring pressure on their backcourt and allow the team to push in transition. But the ghost of the past doesn’t seem to have exactly let them off the hook.

“So that’s the part I wondered if they would be able to survive more effectively than past seasons… But I wonder if their defence should be like the sixth or seventh best. They’ve been at bottom two defence every year for seven straight years. And so, if it was good enough could that be enough? And it kind of hasn’t been right, it’s been okay. But they need to be a little bit better on the defensive end,” East added.

According to coach Briann January, physical aggression and discipline on the defensive side — something the team has historically lacked– will be key. “Bri has really challenged our group to be physical, to be up in their space,” Clark said.

With increased physicality and a newfound defensive discipline, the team has a chance to stay competitive, even without their superstar guard. But until those defensive habits become a permanent part of their culture, adding back Caitlin Clark might be a temporary spark, not a permanent solution to their struggles.

Aari McDonald pushes Indiana Fever against all odds

As a free agent signed on a hardship contract, Aari McDonald absolutely lit up the Indiana Fever’s locker room when she stepped in. While the roster warmly welcomed the athlete and ensured not to pressurise her in the first game, Aari turned out to be the flame that the roster needed.

She almost immediately gelled into the locker room and stepped up to take on guard duties. Without any ifs and buts. She quickly jumped off the bench in the first game and has propelled the team into two spectacular wins so far.

So, naturally there were high expectations from the point guard as the Indiana Fever stepped on the Gateway Centre arena. Well, it is not easy going against team that boasts of athletic and power-packed players like Brittney Griner and Rhyne Howard. However, the Fever newcomer took the reins on the shoulders and rallied the team forward.

McDonald even managed to tally 9 points within 8 minutes of jumping off the bench in the first quarter. She put up a tough front against the Dream, thereby providing a much-needed momentum to the Fever. Moreover, she managed to garner a 33-33 tie entering the third quarter.

While she dished a total of 11 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists for the roster, her efforts fell flat as the team gave in to the Dream’s physicality. Will the losing streak continue as they face New York Liberty or will they give them a befitting reply for the previous game? That remains to be seen.