Fever conclude week 1 of camp, gear up for back-to-back preseason games
Head coach Stephanie White is emphasizing evaluation, depth, and game prep as the Fever face the Mystics and Brazil in a busy weekend of tune-up games. Here's what to expect on Saturday.
Indiana Fever practice had a change of court and scenery for Day 5 of training camp on Friday. Less than 24 hours before their first of three exhibition games, the team wrapped up another productive session.
The Fever will host the Washington Mystics — a team that made three of the top six picks in last month’s WNBA Draft — at 1 p.m. Saturday, then travel to the University of Iowa on Sunday for a practice game against the Brazilian National Team.
Practice on the main floor gave most of the roster — 10 of 15 being newcomers — their first opportunity to adjust to the unique court and different sight lines. Still, they’ve already discussed how the building will be roaring like a Pacers playoff game come Saturday — even for an exhibition.
“It’ll be exciting,” veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell said, smiling after practice. “The other day we were just talking about it as a group in a suite, just looking up at everybody else at the Pacers game. And we were like, ‘Wow.’ And I think DB (DeWanna Bonner) didn't realize that it's gonna be the same way for the Fever games. So she's gonna be shocked.”
After Caitlin Clark’s rise last year, the Fever soared to record-breaking numbers — in viewership, ticket sales, merchandise, media attention, and most of all, fan interest.
This season is expected to reach another level.
The coaching staff, now led by Stephanie White, was overhauled and strengthened. The roster added experience, leadership, shooting, and defense. One key priority: build enough depth so Clark and Mitchell aren’t logging 38+ minutes a night.
“Our goal is to get better as the game progresses,” White said. “Our goal is to get better as the season progresses, and so that means managing minutes.”
That challenge gets real immediately, as the Fever play two games in two days this weekend. Clark’s name popped up on the injury report (left leg) and fans panicked — but there’s no reason to worry.