Be it regular season or the playoffs, many teams have quietly exited the 2026 season. But you never quite hear that silence in Indiana, and the setting hasn’t changed this offseason. From questions about the offseason moves to Kelsey Mitchell’s exit interview, the conversation around Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever is far from dying down despite the season’s exit. 

The Fever ran the league’s best offense throughout the season, but never capitalized on it when it mattered the most. While they were able to compensate for their poor defense with scoring, the postseason exposed holes in their lineup, prompting a WNBA analyst to demand a major shakeup in Indiana. 

“After seeing the teams that made it to the WNBA finals, I’m even more sure: no more run-it-back c*** for the Indiana Fever,” Robin Lundberg said in a YouTube video. “Things need to change, and it needs to be centered around Caitlin Clark. She should be setting the tone.”

Indiana’s vulnerability on defense was a big reason for their first-round exit. The defensive lapses eventually impacted their scoring, which the Las Vegas Aces were able to exploit. The Fever lacked a strong and consistent frontcourt presence. Clark and Mitchell were elite on the offense, averaging for a combined 47 points per game, but head coach Stephanie White didn’t have solid personnel alongside both these stars to balance the roster.

“The Fever, with their current personnel and structure, I don’t know if they can get there defensively. If it’s me, I’m probably making changes at GM, changes at coach and overhauling everything,” Lundberg added.

Despite being inferior to the Aces on defense, the Fever outrebounded them in two of the three games. Despite glimpses of an improved defense in the postseason, something was missing from their lineup. If they had a veteran presence on the floor, perhaps the result would have been different. The Fever need to target adding depth to the roster with veteran players who can handle the pressure in the postseason.

However, according to Lundberg, cleaning house should be the priority for the Fever. In her exit interview, Mitchell alluded to the struggles of playing alongside Clark, and the optics that come with it. She alleged hate comments by fans through social media DMs. 

“One thing that definitely needs to change, no matter who’s in place, is the mind state… And nobody should be walking in the door who is dealing with being part of the Caitlin Clark experience. They should be embracing it. Nobody should be there who is dealing with it. And you know that is something that can switch, and it needs to be switched out,” Lundberg added.

While Clark condemned attacks on Mitchell, she also said that being on her team also benefits her teammates and comes with great things. For Clark, it has been the case since she was in Iowa.

“I’m not saying Caitlin Clark needs to demand a trade or whatever, but she needs to make sure her voice is heard,” Lundberg said further. “She needs to make sure she’s setting the tone…that she’s not along for the ride. She’s the driver…not along for the ride. 

“Loyalty is a great thing, but you don’t have to have fealty in your loyalty. Caitlin Clark is the reason for all this. She needs to be the impetus for the decisions that they make and the way that they team build going forward.”

Clark is due for an EPIC contract extension. Though no contract confirmation has been announced, the Fever star clarified that she will return to Indiana, but she wants to negotiate her contract after getting the full knowledge that the front office is putting together a championship-caliber team.