They’ve barely unpacked their bags in contender territory, but the Indiana Fever are already being fitted for a crown. In 2025, the WNBA’s most-hyped rebuild has become a high-wire act—where rookie brilliance, veteran grit, and media buzz collide mid-air. Caitlin Clark isn’t just playing basketball; she’s pitching championship visions before the paint’s even dry. Rachel DeMita crowned them “absolutely contenders,” putting Indiana at No. 2 in her power rankings. But as the hype spirals upward, not everyone is convinced the elevator has reached the top floor just yet.
While veterans like DeWanna Bonner offered tempered optimism with statements like, “This team wants to be better, this team wants to be great,” Caitlin Clark was already lacing up for October. Her tone wasn’t cautious; it was urgent. According to Tony East on the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast with Howard Megdal, “Caitlin made it very clear what her expectations are for the Indiana Fever this year. She thinks they are a championship level team, title or bust.”
Where does that confidence come from? It could be the roster. Bonner, now a legend in her own right, is fourth all-time on the WNBA career scoring list with 7,482 points, surpassing Fever icon Tamika Catchings. She’s also 10th in defensive rebounds and third in games played. Then there’s Aliyah Boston, one of the league’s most dominant bigs, who ranked 9th in blocks and 7th in rebounds last season. Add in Clark herself—the 2024 Rookie of the Year, first in three-pointers made, and the league leader in assists. And don’t forget Kelsey Mitchell, fifth in three-pointers and eighth in scoring.
On paper, Clark’s title-or-bust sentiment doesn’t seem outlandish. But Tony East wasn’t fully sold. “And I think they have lots of talent and I think they have a lot of new talent and they’re going to have a lot to figure out. And I think it’s good that they have lofty goals. But that is quite the high bar,” he noted.
He was quick to clarify his stance. “And I’m not saying that they can’t reach it. I think that’s quite a high bar for a team that is getting hit with expectations for the first time in seven or eight years, more than that, almost 10 years.”
And that’s the crux of it. The Indiana Fever haven’t tasted championship glory since 2012, when Tamika Catchings led them to their only title. Their last Finals appearance was in 2015, and since then, it’s been a carousel of draft picks, coaches, and sub-.500 seasons. Clark’s arrival reignited the fan base, but her expectations have also reignited pressure.
The Fever’s 2025 season feels less like a slow build and more like a sprint from the jump ball. But for some analysts, it may be a race too soon to win. The green light isn’t there yet. And as Tony East rightly pointed out, the bar has been raised—but the climb is only just beginning.
Caitlin Clark’s Offseason Strength Gains Turn Heads
However, if there’s one thing Caitlin Clark isn’t doing in 2025, it’s coasting on hype. The former Rookie of the Year is backing up her bold “championship or bust” talk with the kind of offseason grind that doesn’t lie. And no one’s noticed it more than her teammate and All-Star center Aliyah Boston.
Speaking to the media during Fever Media Day, Boston couldn’t help but comment on Clark’s improved physicality. “I think her strength [has been notable]. She gets into the paint and she’s able to bully her way and finish strong at the basket,” Boston said. “Everyone talks, once again, about her three-point shooting. We’ve all seen her passing. Her ability to get downhill and just stay on balance and score the ball I think it’s gonna be great this year, too.”
Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) celebrates with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) altering recording a triple-double Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, 93-86.
Even coach Stephanie White had to co-sign the transformation. On the Good Follow podcast, she revealed that Clark has been laser-focused on prepping for the WNBA’s bruising physicality. “Getting stronger was a key focus,” White noted, highlighting Clark’s work on core strength and maintaining a low center of gravity—crucial tools for surviving and thriving in a league that doesn’t take it easy on rookies, no matter how hyped.
Clark herself admitted that she hit the gym hard this offseason, telling reporters, “That was my biggest focus in the offseason, just trying to get stronger and really working on that.” Her noticeably larger biceps drew a flurry of attention—something she’s now used to. “I feel like everyone talks about it. I’ll see it on social media, they’ll be like Caitlin has such strong muscles. And don’t tell her I said that. Don’t even mention that.”
She even showed off her cannon of an arm by launching jerseys into the crowd at a recent Pacers game. With 163 of 180 free throws made in her debut season, strength is becoming another weapon in her growing arsenal.
The post No Green Light to Caitlin Clark’s Bold WNBA Expectations as National Reporter Explains Why It’s Too Early to Say appeared first on EssentiallySports.