Fever open training camp with fresh energy, competitive battles ahead
A new coaching staff, a reloaded roster, and high expectations set the tone as the Indiana Fever opened training camp on Sunday.
In the days leading up to Sunday, day one of training camp for the Indiana Fever, free-agent signee DeWanna Bonner received many text messages from her new teammates.
“What is practice going to be like?” they all wondered.
It’s a new era of Fever basketball.
The drafting of Caitlin Clark one year ago changed everything. Then, there were wholesale changes after the Fever returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 — the last of the Tamika Catchings glory years.
Stephanie White is back at the helm of the organization, leading a group with championship aspirations. Bonner spent the last two seasons playing for her in Connecticut. Now they are reunited in Indiana.
“Getting those text messages, I was like, ‘Wow, you can tell people are dialed in and they want this,’” Bonner said after practice.
Bonner, 37, is one of 10 new players in camp, along with just five returners. She owns the WNBA record for playoff games played, whereas the Fever’s starting five last postseason had zero.
The Fever targeted experience, leadership, shooting, and defense this offseason.
Bonner is expected to start, can play both the three and four spots, runs the floor, and helps with spacing. And she’s a tremendous sounding board for the rest of the team.
“The most impressive thing I think is they don't want it to be better,” Bonner said. “They want to be a great team. They wanna be a great organization. They want the leadership. So just all eyes looking at me like, ‘OK, DB, what do you wanna do next’ And everybody has been receptive of me being a leader. And I'm just trying to give all the knowledge I can — but also save my breath because they’re fast. (laughs) They run a lot.”
There was plenty of running and movement. White demands constant action from her players; standing around won’t be tolerated. They’ll be an offensive-heavy team, but defense will still be emphasized. Connecticut was No. 1 in defensive rating last season; Indiana ranked 11th.
One of the five returning players is Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 pick in 2023, now entering her third season with the Fever. It's her first time with a new coaching staff since being drafted.
“It's different from what we have been used to here, but it's pretty great,” Boston said of practice. “I think she gets to the point. We do what we have to do and then we get on to the next thing.”
White and Clark were not made available after the first day, but they are expected to speak after Monday’s practice.
Boston is a natural speaker and a great representative for the team. She spent the offseason working again as a studio analyst for NBC/Peacock and, like Lexie Hull, she competed at Unrivaled. Her focus remains the same: consistency around the paint and in the mid-range.
“That’s going to have to be my bread and butter, and then working towards the three,” she said. “I think the coaches do a great job of instilling that confidence in all of us that you're capable of taking and knocking down any shot you take.”
It’s been encouraging for the organization to have so many players in town over the few weeks leading up to camp. It wasn't too long ago that teams would be without two or three players throughout the preseason due to overseas obligations.