Ex-Chicago Star Thrilled After Discovering Fever’s First-of-Its-Kind WNBA Update in Caitlin Clark’s Absence

The Indiana Fever’s regular season didn’t just test their talent; it tested their survival. What started with championship buzz around Caitlin Clark quickly turned into a battle of endurance that few teams could withstand. By the time they faced the Minnesota Lynx in their final regular-season game, only three players from opening night’s lineup were still standing. The rest? A patchwork of names that weren’t even on the training camp roster. And their resilience has now drawn the admiration of an ex-Chicago Sky legend.

Battered, bruised, and written off by many, the Indiana Fever clawed out just enough wins to punch their ticket to the playoffs. And they didn’t stop there. Even without Clark, the squad carved out a franchise-first achievement that will live in the record books. News of that milestone even caught the attention of WNBA legend Candace Parker. The ex-Chicago Sky star couldn’t hide her admiration, praising the Fever for refusing to break under the kind of pressure that would have crushed most teams.

This praise from the WNBA legend came during her Post Moves podcast alongside Fever’s Aliyah Boston. The record Parker praises is the Fever setting a new franchise record for the most wins in a regular season. “You all are 23 and 20, and you set a new franchise record for most wins in a season. I do have to put parentheses around it cause the WNBA is playing more games. However, you won the games that are in front of you, so nobody’s hating on that,” Candace Parker said.

When the final buzzer rang against Washington on September 7, the Indiana Fever (23-20) locked in something fans hadn’t seen in almost a decade: back-to-back playoff appearances. This time, though, they did more than just sneak in. For the first time ever, the franchise hit 23 wins in a single season, a milestone made possible in the WNBA’s longest campaign yet at 44 games.

Indiana’s previous best had been 22 victories, achieved during their Finals runs in 2009 and 2012. Just a year ago, they were celebrating a hard-fought .500 finish at 20-20. Now, they’ve raised the bar again, closing out the season at 24-20 with a .545 win percentage. This proves that the rebuild has officially turned a corner with Caitlin Clark sitting out.

However, this was not the only record they claimed this season. And Parker pointed it out too, stating, “Made the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and you will host a playoff game for the first time since 2016 because the league has now changed back to the, you know, 1-1-1 home-away format, which is amazing. So, you’re going to have a playoff game on the Fever home court.”

It’s been a long wait for playoff basketball in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever’s last home postseason clash came back in 2016, when they fell 89-78 to the Phoenix Mercury inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Fast forward to 2024, Caitlin Clark & co. broke their playoff drought but were swept 2-0 in the opening round without hosting a single game, since both contests were played on the higher-seeded Connecticut Sun’s court.

That storyline takes a different turn in 2025. Under the league’s new first-round format, the higher seed still hosts Games 1 and 3, but Game 2 belongs to the lower seed. Which means, whether Indiana locks in as the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, Fever fans are guaranteed a playoff game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where their team holds a 12-9 record this season. For context, the Fever have been a fixture in the league since their 2000 debut. Their first taste of postseason action arrived in 2002, and since then, they’ve punched 14 playoff tickets (2002, 2005–2016, 2024).

Across those runs, Indiana has played 68 postseason contests. They hold a near-even record of 35-33, good for a playoff winning percentage of roughly 51.5. The franchise has reached the WNBA Finals three times, in 2009, 2012, and 2015. Their crowning moment came in 2012, when Tamika Catchings led the charge to a 3-1 Finals triumph over the Minnesota Lynx and claimed Finals MVP honors. But the team is going on this journey again, just without their star player at the helm.

Caitlin Clark’s teammate reveals how she supports her team from the sidelines

Losing five key players does not paint a bright picture for the playoffs. However, Stephanie White has managed to turn it around and has now taken her team to the postseason. “The message is, you know, we’re not happy to just be in the playoffs. We want to compete in the playoffs. We want to be a team that is competing for championships. And in order to compete for championships, you don’t play the score. You don’t play the opponent. You play the standard,” White said after their last regular season game against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday.

The Fever shuffled lineups all season, leaning on hardship signings, yet battled through constant changes to stay alive and competitive. Aliyah Boston anchored the roster with career-best production, averaging 15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on elite efficiency. Kelsey Mitchell played every game, pouring in 20.3 points per night while shouldering massive scoring loads without Caitlin Clark available. But the Fever guard offered help in her own way from the sidelines.

Clark still participates in all team activities and keeps the morale up for her teammates. Revealing an example of this, Boston said, “So, we’ve just been supporting her and she’s been supporting us. She’s always there. We’re getting to watch [game] film, and she’s in there walking through saying, ‘Heyyy.’ And we’re like, ‘Get out. Get out. Go do what you need to do.’ But she’s still the same.” Furthermore, the Fever guard has not missed any games despite being out with injury, barring one game she missed due to a family emergency. It just goes on to show how much Caitlin Clark gives back to her team, offering them key motivation in the playoff run.