Throughout their most recent string of contests, winners of four of their last six, the Indiana Fever have been able to take advantage of opponents that are struggling in varying degrees. With that, they have also found some rhythm that currently has them sitting one game out of the playoff standings.
Furthermore, that recent success, as well as hiccups along the way, have shown that with time, Indiana has more and more rounded into a team that has shown signs of success both in the short term as well as long term.
Clark’s Assists Record and Offense Moving Forward
In what has been the quickest element to jell with the W, Caitlin Clark’s ability to pass the ball has been on full display throughout the majority of the season. It hit a crescendo in one of their most recent losses, an 88-87 final against the Chicago Sky.
Loss aside, Clark set the franchise record in assists with 13. All of them came in the first three quarters of play. For Clark, the ability to hit her teammates in the right spot has been predicated on the ever-growing connection:
“I think just like me and AB’s (Aliyah Boston) connection has improved a little bit and Lys’ (NaLyssa Smith). I think just the chemistry and getting to play with one another, you kind of get on the same page with your minds a little bit better.”
Fellow guard Kelsey Mitchell touched on her and Clark growing more aware of each other when playing together:
“I think experience is everything. I think the more and more you learn with the people you’re playing with, you create a better atmosphere on and off the floor and I think that me and Caitlin (Clark) are to a point where we can trust each other, rely on each other offensively and defensively. … I would like to say that our connection is going to keep evolving.”
Clark has led the team in assists in every game this season but one.
And while her recent staple in Indiana’s record books is notable, one would be remiss in not pointing out that while Chicago outscored them 25-14 in the final quarter, Clark also was held to zero assists in that same quarter. She went just two for three from the field during that period of time.
The trend of ebbing and flowing times in which Clark looks to find her shot on offense continued in their most recent loss to the Seattle Storm, an 89-77 final, when she finished the game shooting four for nine from the field.
Indiana Fever HC Christie Sides On Clark’s Role in the Offense
After their game against Seattle, head coach Christie Sides touched on the need for more offense to come from Clark:
“Caitlin Clark needs to shoot a minimum of 15 shots a game for us. She’s got to get shots and we’ve got to do a better job of setting really good screens for her. The way people guard her, it’s tough because she’s getting redded. Once the ball is out of her hands, she’s setting our team up for great looks but when we’re not finishing those, we’ve got to make sure we’re going back to getting the ball back in her hands.”
But for as much as she needs to warm up on the offensive side of the ball, Clark is also taking what the defense is giving her when playing a ball screen-dominant offense against one of the league’s best in the Seattle Storm:
“We played out of a lot of ball screens tonight so I feel like when you’re getting doubled on the ball screen, you’re always going to give it up so that should create an advantage for us when attacking the basket. … I could definitely be more aggressive to the basket but I just have to try and take what the defense gives me and set my teammates up for success too.”
Fever guard Caitlin Clark
Throughout the season, they’ve lost four contests by a margin of six points or less and come out on top. in future close games, the need for Clark to be more involved in every facet of offense will be pivotal if they want to continue to make 2024 a season in which they can build on.
The Debut and Potential Returns of Skill and Size
While Indiana’s guard play continues to figure out things on the offensive end of the floor, the frontcourt for the Fever just got a bit deeper after the return of Temi Fagbenle who has been sidelined since May 28 with a left foot injury while fellow big, Damiris Dantas was activated from the suspended list earlier this week after being held out due to a knee injury.
Fagbenle was averaging 9.1 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game before she was sidelined. She returned in her first action on Thursday night against Seattle. The veteran forward posted eight points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 19 minutes on the floor.
Sides touched on the energy that Fagbenle brings to the floor after their most recent game:
“I’m really happy with where she was tonight, she just brings a spark. She’s got to get her feet under her. She had some fouls but that’s to be expected. She’s going to give you all she’s got and it’s just great to have her back.”
beautiful pass by Lexie Hull to Temi Fagbenle for two 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/sTSycOFqWd
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 28, 2024
The re-emergence of Fagbenle provides Indiana with more depth and size at the frontline. She showed it in the early stages of the season. She is also making herself known as a formidable one-two punch with their backcourt. Alongside Fagbenle is the activation of Dantas. Dantas brings not just size but an ability to stretch the floor outside of the arc as well.
Dantas, who hasn’t played in the W since July of 2022, spent her most recent time in the league with the Minnesota Lynx where she played four seasons.
With Dantas, the return of Fagbenle, and Katie Lou Samuelson who has shown the ability to play at multiple spots on the floor this season, Indiana has more than enough firepower to pack the post alongside Smith and Boston for their final stretch before the Olympic break.
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