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The Indiana Fever were two steps ahead of every team this free agency. Not because of their front office but simply because of their rookies. The Fever already had arguably their best player on contract in Caitlin Clark and another core player in Aliyah Boston. Others had to use their supermax contracts and negotiate to build their team from the ground up. And having Caitlin Clark is a privilege that made signing their targets particularly easy. 

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The Indiana Fever needed some frontcourt presence. A player that can rebound, defend and give them some presence in the paint. The front office landed on the 7-year veteran Myisha Hines-Allen from Dallas, who averaged 7.6 points, 2.9 assists and 6 rebounds last year while shooting 45% from the field. The free agent signed on a 1-year, $315,000 deal and one of her main motivations for joining the Fever was getting to play with Caitlin Clark. 

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“Winning and being able to play with Caitlin Clark was a huge eye-opening opportunity,” Hines Allen said on media day. “I got to play with one of the greatest players who will ever play the game of basketball. When I heard she really wanted me there too, I had no questions about it.”

Now, that’s some high praise for Clark. She is arguably the greatest player to play college basketball but her WNBA career is too young to say that yet. But she is on her way. As a rookie Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds to win the Rookie of the Year, earn an All Star and All-WNBA first team selection while breaking the assists record. Her second year was stifled by injuries but she has returned with a bang, winning the MVP in her first Team USA tournament. 

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And there is no doubt that Clark makes players around her better. With Clark at point guard, Hines-Allen will get better looks in the paint and could even improve upon her 2025 numbers. In addition, Hines-Allen also recognizes Aliyah Boston’s influence on Indiana’s game. 

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“You also have Aliyah Boston, who is amazing,” she said. “I was impressed with the way she played last year. Being able to play off her and help her continue to grow made me feel like I needed to be there,” Hines-Allen said. “It’s going to be challenging, but I know it’s going to be worth it.”

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As the season went on last year, Boston’s game turned more all-around rather than restrictive under the basket. Her creative responsibilities grew with all three of their regular point guards out with injury. She ended up averaging 15 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, with her assist number up by 0.5 compared to 2024. Hines-Allen and Boston can play together with Boston playing more as a center with Hines-Allen at 4. In addition, Clark’s ability in transition will also help Hines-Allen in taking a step up in Indiana.  

Caitlin Clark Declares Herself The “Best Transition Player In The League”

Fans love Caitlin Clark shooting those logo threes. However, her impact goes beyond just that. Clark’s passing is arguably the most important part of her game. More specifically, her over the top, quarterback-style transition passes that somehow land perfectly. And the point guard recognizes that going into the season. 

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“I think I’m the best transition player in the league,” Clark said. “That’s where I thrive. Everybody knows that’s my game. So, getting the ball off a rebound in transition, that’s probably when I’m going to be a primary ball handler more than anything.”

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While that might sound a little boastful, it’s not wrong. According to CBS Sports, Clark averaged a league-leading 7.3 transition possessions plus assists per game as a rookie and generated 1.290 points per possession plus assists. In 2025, despite her injury woes, she led the league in transition possessions plus assists per game (6.5) and generated 1.365 points per possession plus assists. 

The Indiana Fever as a whole is among the fastest teams over the past two seasons. Their possessions lasted around 15 seconds, with the only faster teams being the Aces and the Liberty. Myisha Hines-Allen is someone who can run the floor and score in transition. During her best years in this aspect, she scored more than 10% of her points on a fast break from 2022-2024 in Washington and Minnesota. So, this pairing seems to be perfect on paper. 

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Soham Kulkarni

1,335 Articles

Soham Kulkarni is a WNBA Writer at EssentiallySports, where he focuses on data-backed reporting and performance analysis. A Sports Management graduate, he examines how spacing in efficiency zones, shot selection, and statistical shifts drive results. His work goes beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, helping readers see how underlying trends affect player efficiency and the evolving strategies of the women’s game. With a detail-oriented and analytical approach, Soham turns complex data into accessible narratives that bring clarity to the fastest-moving moments of basketball. His reporting captures not just what happened, but why it matters, showing fans how small efficiency gains, defensive structures, and tempo shifts can alter outcomes. At ES, he provides a sharper, stats-first lens on the WNBA’s present and future.

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Snigdhaa Jaiswal

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