Transitioning from college to the pros did not serve Caitlin Clark the best last season. It was mentally taxing, injuries waited on the brink, and the league’s physicality was adding nothing good. The 2024 ROTY may have gone on to break no less than 19 records, but it was a rough start none could deny. Even ESPN refused her a spot on the MVP favorites. So now you know why she refused the Messi-like Unrivaled contract– gain that strength, ensure herself some peace, and get back better than ever. If the added muscle on her biceps wasn’t enough indication, we have got two more sources sounding the alarm for the rest of the league. And this hasn’t even got to do with Clark’s growth alone.

It took CC and the Fever one preseason game against the Brazilian national team to show what the W was in for this year. The 23-year-old added 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists across 19 minutes to help her team to a 108-44 win. She’d shoot 6-of-10 from the field, including back-to-back pull-up threes in the opening quarter. But for the defining moment? She stepped back from the massive logo etched on the court—the very same spot where she broke the NCAA scoring record—and launched a deep three-pointer. Thirty-six feet out… and straight in.

That was just enough individual showing from Clark to back her case for ESPN’s MVP favorite. Yes, she is on that list this season. But as aforementioned, this isn’t just about Caitlin’s strengths elevating her season. If you ask ESPN and analyst Rachel DeMita, they will tell you, her team’s going to play just as important a role.

“Other WNBA teams are not going to be able to guard Caitlin Clark in the same way that they did during her rookie season because you have so many assets on the court,” DeMita says on her podcast.

It is one thing that Caitlin Clark poured hours into strength and conditioning this off-season, alongside adding midrange shots and floaters to her skillset, but it’s another that she has got a solid team backing her. We saw Sophie Cunningham show up for a team-leading 21 points in the first game. Then came Kelsey Mitchell with 19, and a consistent Lexie Hull on both ends of the floor. In the game against Brazil, it was all of them shooting from the 3-point line. DeWanna Bonner, too, added 1-of-2. You know what that means– in guarding Caitlin Clark, the opponents will be creating space for the rest of Indiana’s offense.

“You’re not going to face-guard, double-team, or trap Caitlin Clark, because there are so many other threats on the floor. All these players, you can’t leave them open on the three-point line,” DeMita adds. Rightfully so.

The Fever shot 45.5% from beyond the arc in their previous game and drained a total of 13 threes in the first half alone. Their offense piled up 70 points while holding Brazil to just 24 in those two quarters. This is a showing of a strong team and right up the alley of ESPN’s prediction.

“Indiana’s ascendency after a big offseason… could also help Clark’s MVP case,” writes Doug Greenberg of ESPN while reporting the odds for Caitlin Clark’s MVP race, which stand at +200. Further strengthening his remark was Caesars Sportsbook pro basketball lead David Lieberman. “A’ja Wilson’s team won so many games more than the Fever and Clark, so then she gets MVP. I think this year it’s just going to be relatively close in the standings, which helps Clark’s case.” 

To sum it up, Caitlin Clark is ready, the Indiana Fever is storming through, it is looking like a MVP and a championship campaign, and the 12 other teams better watch out.

Stephanie White brings new strategies for Caitlin Clark & Co.

When Indiana Fever’s new head coach took over the throne, she already had a multifaceted strategy aimed at elevating Caitlin Clark’s performance and leadership for the 2025 WNBA season. First, recognizing the physical demands of the league, she helped the 2024 Rookie of the Year enhance her strength and core stability. She also pitched in unpredictable finishes and more off-ball movements to keep the opponents guessing.

“Where we can improve is our ability to score off of cuts with this roster,” White said. “We can use a lot of off-ball screening action with the lineup that we have. I think we can force mismatches and look to attack mismatches a little bit more. We’ve got a high-IQ team.”

The HC brings a new perspective to the team after having planned against them last season. It has been particularly helpful in strategizing the game for CC. “He [Keith Porter] understands how we wanted to cover Caitlin a year ago, so what are the things that we can challenge her to work on?” she says.

The pieces are fitting right in for Indiana Fever– from coaching staff, the young core, and the veterans to the defensive force in new additions. All signs stay positive for the team this season. Can they capitalize on it?