Rhetorically speaking, how would you feel if you were just one win away from hitting double digits, and a force named Indiana Fever bulldozed right through the big X? If anyone knows that sting, it’s the New York Liberty. Their shot at joining the league’s elite for the longest winning streak to start a season? Yeah, that went out the window. The Liberty fell short by 4 wins. Anyway, the next big question looms: Where does Indiana go from here? We just might have that answer for you.

All it would take is a trip down memory lane: back to 2012–13. To the start of a ‘dynasty’ in the making… That early Golden State Warriors team felt like something straight out of a coming-of-age movie! Right before they exploded into a full-fledged action blockbuster. Nobody saw them as threats… not at the time, anyway. However, the Bay Area side flashed potential and just enough faith in themselves to prove everyone wrong.

Sound like anyone you’re watching right now? Let us break it down…

Almost Uncanny similarities?

Fanbase Explosion

The 2012–13 Warriors transformed Oracle Arena; it got nicknamed “Roaracle”. After all, it was one of sports’ most intimidating venues. The noise levels were so intense that opposing coaches like Monty Williams were left scratching their heads. “I’m not so sure the decibel level is legal, and I’m serious,” Monty said more than a decade ago, complaining that everything got a little “out of hand.” The Warriors’ high-octane play didn’t just win games; it converted the casual Bay Area sports fans into the rabid “Dub Nation” we know today.

Now history’s repeating itself in Indiana.

The 2024 Fever, led by phenom Caitlin Clark, generated that same electric atmosphere! Gainbridge Fieldhouse has become a ‘must-visit’ destination, and it’s just selling out SO consistently. All the while, the Fever road games in markets like Los Angeles and Washington are smashing WNBA attendance records. The Clark effect extends beyond the court, though. Her jersey sales have outpaced even the NBA stars. She ranked second only to Steph Curry per Fanatics data.

Both teams have captured something bigger than basketball, though. The Warriors’ “Splash Brothers” gave the NBA a new type of unexpected excitement, just as Clark’s deep-range bombs and viral highlights are expanding the WNBA’s reach.

The Unfinished Roster Story

With Caitlin Clark leading the charge just like Stephen Curry did in his breakout fourth season, it’s like looking at a blueprint being followed twice. One that was drawn in the Bay is now unfolding in Indiana. CC’s rookie campaign was historic. She averaged 19.2 points, a league-best 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds while shattering WNBA rookie records for assists (337) and three-pointers (122). She even became the first rookie to notch multiple triple-doubles.

Sound familiar? Like Curry, who faced doubts about his game early on, Clark has silenced the skeptics (including UConn’s Geno Auriemma). He once questioned her ability to run an offense. He said, “[Clark is] just not built for the physicality of this league. And she’s not quick enough to get away from the physicality.”

Then there’s Aliyah Boston, the Fever’s very own Draymond Green. A defensive anchor with an elite in-game IQ. And this season, she has even increased her overall output (13.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 4.1 APG), showing off her increasing versatility. Add Kelsey Mitchell to the mix, their veteran sparkplug. She mirrors Jarrett Jack’s microwave scoring, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors and providing clutch buckets off the bench. Lexie Hull, while not a stat-stuffer, brings Harrison Barnes-like energy with her defensive hustle and timely plays.

The missing piece might be a Klay Thompson-esque sniper. Do you think that Sophie Cunningham’s return from the injury could fill that role? If not, Indiana must target a sharpshooter to complete this rising core.

Scrutinized Head Coaches

The parallels between Mark Jackson’s Warriors tenure and Christie Sides’ Fever situation are striking. Coach Jackson earned credit for building Golden State’s defensive foundation, but his rigid offensive system drew heavy fire from the critics. He wasn’t given any relaxation despite guiding the team to its first playoff appearance in six years. That tension ultimately led to his 2014 firing. It proved that even playoff success couldn’t silence the critics.

Now in Indiana, Coach Sides faced similar growing pains. Her early-season management of Caitlin Clark’s minutes and role drew questions from ESPN analysts. Moreover, the close losses put her late-game decisions under a microscope. Like Jackson, she had shown defensive improvement (the Fever jumped from last to 8th in defensive rating), but offensive stagnation and rotation questions still lingered.

The key similarity is that Coach Sides didn’t get the time to adjust, despite getting Fever their first playoff berth since 2016. Jackson also chose to cling to his system, but today’s coaches must adapt faster. Now, Stephanie White’s ability to evolve with and without the young WNBA icon could determine whether she follows Jackson’s path or writes her own success story with the reinvigorated Indiana side.

Every sports fan would know that good teams are able to win ugly games. And that’s exactly what happened with the Fever in May 2025 against the Dream (81-76). No way you could deem it Indiana’s most aesthetically pleasing display, but they still managed to win. Be it moving the ball around consistently, shooting, or key contributions off the bench, Stephanie White’s side is nowhere near perfect. But they are somehow finding ways to win.

The beginning of greatness…

The Golden State Warriors finished the 2012-13 season with a 47-35 record after winning against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs but eventually losing to the Spurs in round two. They had earned the 6th seed in the West. It was their first playoff appearance in six years! Even after all the doubts, Stephen Curry was averaging 22.9 points per game and shattered the NBA record with 272 three-pointers that season. Yet most critics still dismissed him as “just a shooter.”

The media painted the Bay Area side as entertaining but ultimately incomplete. Now fast-forward to the 2024 Indiana Fever. You can see those same sparks of something really special. Most importantly, this time, we won’t make the mistake of overlooking the signs. Caitlin Clark is already transforming the offense as a super young sensation, forcing defenses to stretch beyond their limits.

Clark has put the Indiana franchise back in the national conversation. Sure, their current record sits around .500, but just like those early Warriors squads, you can see their identity strengthening game by game. Once they solve the frontcourt health and add the missing piece to their roster, the victories will follow.

So those of you eager to watch the Fever take the title to Indy, just be patient. Because just like the Golden State, they might not win immediately. However, they are carefully collecting the battle scars. Indiana does have a dynasty in building mode, which could rule over the upcoming decade. Just enjoy the ride for now, because we are witnessing the beginning of greatness.