INDIANAPOLIS — It’s halftime of a game between the Indiana Fever and the Golden State Valkyries on Friday night, and the Fever have just 37 points. They’re down seven after a mediocre second quarter, in need of solutions against one of the WNBA’s top teams.
They found many. Their ball movement and offense were sublime in the second half. The Valkyries made nine shots in the final two quarters — the Fever, comparatively, had 13 assists. Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark both scored 12+ points. Kelsey Mitchell hit eight foul shots.
The Fever’s three stars typically lead the way, and they did in the second half as the team put up 53 points against the WNBA’s second-best defense, at least in terms of defensive rating. “They’re a really good team,” Clark said of the Valkyries postgame. “They’re really good defensively.”
Those 53 points pushed the Fever’s final total to 90. It was the first time Golden State allowed more than 80 to an opponent all season. Indiana, meanwhile, has scored 87+ in all six of their games — and they’ve played two top-five defenses already in the Valkyries and the Seattle Storm (small sample sizes and schedules certainly have a large influence on advanced stats at this point in the season).
The numbers say exactly what the eye test says for the Fever: They can really score. Currently, they are fourth in offensive rating and first in net rating. Moreover, they are third in assist percentage, fifth in true shooting percentage, and first in pace. Indiana is going to put up numbers, and their ball movement and shot making are the biggest reasons why.
A crucial halftime shift against the Valkyries actually came on the defensive end. The Fever were more aggressive and connected on that end of the floor, which led to more stops. That increased the number of transition reps for the Fever, and that’s where they are at their best offensively. “If we don’t get stops, they get to set their defense,” head coach Stephanie White said of her team’s halftime adjustments. “I thought our defensive energy and intensity and activity was really good, and it allowed us to do what we want to do and play with pace.”
The Fever are 4-2 this season, and in both of their losses they scored more than 100 points. Defense will be what defines their ceiling. That ceiling is so high, though, because of the team’s offense. It’s been a buzzsaw of late.
And it’s leading to wins. It’s been a crazy week for the Indiana Fever with injuries and headlines swirling. And yet, they won every game they played this week and have amassed three victories in a row. They continue to produce high scoring numbers and should remain one of the league’s best teams if they continue to do so.
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Also of note for the Indiana Fever:
Caitlin Clark discusses injury absence
Players miss games all the time, but the circumstances surrounding Clark’s absence on Wednesday in the Fever’ win over the Portland Fire led to many questions. After not being on the injury report at all leading up to the game, Clark was announced as out about 100 minutes before tipoff with a back issue.
White answered questions about the situation on gameday, discussing the timeline and the Fever’s final decision. “It’s not the time to take a chance. We just really want to be cautious,” she explained. Clark did not practice in full the day prior.
The Fever expected Clark to play throughout the day, which is why she wasn’t listed on the injury report prior to being ruled out. Before the Fever hosted the Valkyries on Friday, Clark spoke to reporters and explained the timeline of events on Tuesday and Wednesday. Her response, in full: “I woke up Tuesday. I was here [Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Fever’s practice facility is], I got treatment as I’ve done many practices before, as many of my teammates have done. Had every intention of playing, didn’t indicate I wasn’t going to play. Approached Wednesday, that was the day of our game, as I was 100% playing. Woke up [Wednesday], felt a little sore, texted our training staff, texted my personal physio. Then, do you want to know what I ate for breakfast too? So then I had a filet. I had two eggs over medium, had potatoes and two blueberry waffles with butter and syrup. Then I had PT at home. Then I came down here [to Gainbridge Fieldhouse] about like one o’ clock and we tried to do everything we can. Got on the court, I lifted, went through a hard workout, and I actually went back and looked, because of all these narratives that are going crazy online, about when I told my mom I wasn’t going to play the game. 4:47. You guys found out at 5:20. So one of the most important people in my life found out 40 minutes before you guys. So that’s what my last two days leading up to that Wednesday game looked like.”
Clark was clearly frustrated about the entire situation, and most athletes would be. Missing a game suddenly isn’t something any competitor wants. The online speculation only made it worse.
The Indiana Fever star was then asked who has the final say when it comes to her availability. “It’s me and my confidence,” she said. Clark applauded the team around her and the Fever’s medical staff. It’s been a mental challenge for her to return from multiple soft tissue injuries last season. “These are the best players in the world, and if I don’t feel 100% confident in my body on game five of the year, I don’t know if that’s really worth it in that scenario. I want to play every single game. I want to play 44 games in a season. I’m doing everything I can to do that. I’m putting my body in [the] best position I can to (do that). And I feel really good and really confident in my body. But there’s moments where I still struggle a little bit and I get in my head and things like that and I’m sore. That’s just the reality of it.”
Clark returned Friday and finished with 22 points and nine rebounds against the Valkyries.
Stephanie White speaks to team’s warning
After Clark’s absence on Wednesday, The IX learned that the WNBA had issued a warning to the Indiana Fever regarding injury reporting. After that game, White said she did not expect the team to get fined for the incident.
On Friday, White replied to the team receiving that warning. “My reaction is, for what?” she said. “We did things the right way.”
White shared Wednesday that the team believed throughout the day that Clark was going to play. Friday, she was listed as probable due to her back issue, then ended up suiting up for 32 minutes.
Grace VanSlooten signs with Fever
The Fever waived Shatori Walker-Kimbrough on Thursday, opening up a roster spot that needed to be filled within 72 hours under the new WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Walker-Kimbrough was viewed as a valuable veteran for the Fever but only played in two of the team’s first five games, including zero rotation minutes even in the game that Clark missed.
Her role was extremely small, and the Fever made a shift. On Friday, the team signed forward Grace VanSlooten, who was waived by the Seattle Storm earlier this week. Ironically, VanSlooten’s final game with Seattle was on Sunday the 17th in Indianapolis as a Fever foe. She had five points, two rebounds, and three assists.
But the Storm had to open a roster spot for Awa Fam‘s arrival, so VanSlooten hit the free agency market. The Fever scooped her up — with just a few hours left before clearing waivers, VanSlooten learned of Indiana’s interest. She packed up her apartment that night, then flew to Indiana the next morning.
So her week featured a flight from Indianapolis to Seattle … then right back to Indy. “Everybody has been great, really welcoming,” VanSlooten said of the Fever. “They seem to want to run and play fast. That’s what I’m all about.”
A short absence for Myisha Hines-Allen on Friday meant that the Fever actually needed VanSlooten. She made her debut that night, though she recorded no stats in her two minutes. There shouldn’t have been any expectations for the 2026 third-round draft pick, but it was a fitting end to her chaotic week. Now, the Fever don’t play for six days, so their new signee can get up to speed.
White likes VanSlooten’s length and athleticism. It pairs well with her size and skillset, which the Fever saw up close in Fever-Storm just a few days before the signing. “I like her versatility on both ends of the floor,” the head coach said.
The Fever’s roster is full again. They’re healthy and have many days to practice before travelling out West for a mini road trip. Despite a hectic week, the team has hit an offensive stride and is playing like the team many thought they could be before the season began.
“Becoming Caitlin Clark” is out now!
Howard Megdal’s newest book is here! “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar” captures both the historic nature of Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.
