Caitlin Clark & Co. Has a Clear Privilege that Put them in a Better Position than Napheesa Collier’s Minnesota, Per National Analyst

Last season had been a win-win for the Indiana Fever. With the arrival of Caitlin Clark, the franchise marked a significant turnaround. That’s why the team finished the regular season with a 20-20 record, while securing the 6th overall seed in the playoffs and marking their first postseason appearance since 2016. But still, it wasn’t enough — the team lost to the Connecticut Sun in the first round as they were eliminated in a two-game sweep. However, this year is going to be different. Don’t believe it? Just ask Rachel A. DeMita.

After last season, the Indiana Fever, just like other WNBA teams, went through a lot of changes. First, the team parted ways with head coach Christie Sides, who had a 33-47 record over two seasons, and then hired Stephanie White as their new head coach on November 1st.

But it isn’t the roster or the coach who made the difference. According to Rachel A. DeMita’s recent views on the Indiana Fever, it’s the fan base that has made the biggest impact.

“Fever… what’s going to make them a really hard team to play is that they turn every home game and every away game into a home game. That home crowd follows them wherever they go. Every single Indiana Fever game is going to be played on a big stage,” she shared in one of her recent podcasts.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) goes up for a shot over Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) on June 30, 2024, at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Well, that’s true. In the 2025 season, the Fever are scheduled to appear in 41 of their 44 regular season games on national TV. It would mark a league record for the most nationally televised games by a single team in WNBA history. But this isn’t their only achievement.

Just last season, the team’s home attendance surged dramatically, with over 300,000 fans attending games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse — setting a new WNBA record for home attendance in a season. And all this is definitely going to pose problems for other teams, for sure.

“All of the teams that they are playing against, they are moving them to other arenas. The Indiana Fever are preparing themselves through the regular season for the big stage when it comes to the playoffs,” she added.

For DeMita, the title contenders are New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, and Minnesota Lynx. So, basically, she puts Fever over Lynx. But is it justified just considering the fanbase Fever has? Not really. But there’s a reason behind her priorities.

Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever: Who’s better?

During the 2024 WNBA season, the Fever and Lynx faced each other three times, and the Lynx won two of those matchups. The Fever were able to pull off a win only on July 14th when they were led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 21 points, with Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark contributing 17 points each.

But after that, every time they faced off, the Lynx ensured to hand Clark and co. a loss. But that may not be the case anymore.

What makes the real difference now is the roster. The Fever have four key additions. First, they’ve got DeWanna Bonner — a forward who brings versatility and leadership to the team — and Sydney Colson, a seasoned guard who adds experience to the backcourt.

Next up is Natasha Howard, known for her defensive prowess. Then there’s Sophie Cunningham, who was acquired through a trade and is expected to provide perimeter shooting and toughness. And that’s not all they’ve got. They even welcomed three rookies: Makayla Timpson, a forward from Florida State; Bree Hall, a guard from South Carolina; and Yvonne Ejim, a forward from Gonzaga.

All these players are sure to complement the existing core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell — positioning the Fever as strong contenders in the upcoming season. But don’t count the Lynx out. Collier and co. aren’t just reloading for 2025 — they’re building a well-rounded squad.

It all starts in the backcourt with Natisha Hiedeman, a reliable guard who brings poise, playmaking, and depth to a position where every possession counts. Alongside her, the Lynx have added Marieme Badiane — a rising center with raw potential who’s expected to provide a strong presence in the paint. Pair that with Camryn Taylor, a forward who brings size and a knack for rebounding.

Then there’s Grace Berger, a crafty guard picked up off waivers. She’s versatile, smart, and capable of filling multiple roles in the rotation. And the team hasn’t stopped there.

They dipped into the draft and came out with a trio of intriguing rookies: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, an international forward from Russia, may be a long-term project, but she’s already showing flashes of brilliance. Dalayah Daniels, a forward from Washington, brings toughness on defense and big-game experience. And perhaps most inspiring is Aubrey Griffin out of UConn — a forward who’s battled through injuries, lifted a national championship trophy, and now looks ready to bring that resilience to the W.

To give you the bigger picture, the Lynx’s 2024 Finals run shows they’re no slouches. They went 23-8 and pushed the New York Liberty to five games, with Collier dropping 31 points against the Fever in a regular season game. That kind of experience could outshine Indiana’s fan hype if the Fever’s new roster doesn’t click fast.

With this mix of seasoned vets and high-ceiling newcomers, the Lynx aren’t just looking to compete,  they’re aiming to contend. But will they?? That remains to be seen.

Notably, for the 2025 season, both the Fever and Lynx are scheduled to meet three times. First, they’ll face each other on May 28th in Minnesota, followed by a home game for the Fever on July 12th, and then a concluding game in Minnesota on August 15th.

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