They did it. They actually did it! The Indiana Fever have won the first pick in the WNBA draft – for the second year in a row!

Going in, the Fever were guaranteed a top three pick (and truly, any would have been fantastic), but having the ability to pick their top ranked player: *no words*

The Draft board

This coming draft class looks to be one of the best in recent memory.

Though we won’t know the full list of available players until 2024, the pool of potential prospects contains incredibly talented, franchise-changing players.

People like: Georgia Amoore, Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, Kamilla Cardoso, Caitlin Clark, Aaliyah Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Charlisse Leger-Walker, Nyadiew Puoch, Angel Reese, Jacy Sheldon – and more.

So, who is currently the Fever’s top choice?

GM Lin Dunn may have given us the answer. In a recent episode of the Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast, Dunn said the top guard in this draft class is none other than … Caitlin Clark (please try to rein in your shock).

Caitlin Clark

Clark is a special basketball talent. She’s an upper tier competitor, a threat to score or assist from nearly anywhere on the floor, and routinely goes viral for “logo threes” and pinpoint passes.

However, seeing Clark in a Fever uniform isn’t a done deal. Far from it, in fact. Clark hasn’t confirmed if she’ll be entering the WNBA next year, and may choose to return to Iowa for a fifth and final season.

Selfishly, I hope she declares for the draft. I’d love to buy a Clark 22 Red Fever jersey, and watch her contend for (and win) championships for Indiana. You better believe I’ll be making plans to fly over from Aotearoa New Zealand to watch Clark splash 30-feet three pointers.

If Clark declares for the draft, and if 2024 still has her as the top of the Fever’s draft board of dreams, here are some of the ways she would impact Indiana’s offense:

Screen game

The Fever love screens (don’t we all).

Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith routinely create advantages for the Fever offense with their use of strong screens, and Clark would fit in seamlessly. Whether it’s out of a horns set, running a roll-and-replace action or a simply setting a high screen, Clark’s presence would assist in elevating the overall effectiveness of these plays.

Clark is excellent at reading the floor off oscreens, often moving to drive and finish inside the paint, get to the free throw line, or shoot a pull up jumper (her hang pull is odee).

And when teams send two defenders to her, Clark is masterful at reading angles and creating chances for her teammates. 

In fact, by drafting Clark, the Fever would be changing how teams defend against them; forcing defenses to focus attention her way, opening up opportunities and space across the floor. 

A high screen from Aliyah Boston or NaLyssa Smith for Clark? Sign me up. 

The opposing teams wants to play their big in a drop coverage and dare Clark to beat them from deep? Let ‘em.

You want to trap her and give her the opportunity to find a rolling Boston? Good. 

A roll and replace or a horns set with Clark, Boston and Smith? I’d love to see it. 

Flipping it and having Clark screen for Smith or Boston? Poetry in motion.

Shooting from deep (and I mean deep)

Last season, the Fever were (aggressively?) mid from three-point distance.

They shot at 34% from beyond the arc (sixth in the league) with 19.8 attempts per game; and if you remove Kelsey Mitchell (who shot 39%, on 6.4 3PA), the team number drops even further (via WNBA.com).

No other player on the Fever attempted more than 2.5 three-pointers per game; and of the players who attempted more than 1 three-pointer per game, only Kristy Wallace shot better than 40% from distance (via WNBA.com)

The team needs more shooting.

Enter: Caitlin Clark, who has attempted more than 1000 three-pointers in her college career and hit 37.6% of them (https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/caitlin-clark-1.html).

And that percentage doesn’t even do her justice.

Look at these clips, taking note of where she is shooting from, and the difficulty of some of these shots.

In Clark, the Fever would be adding a high volume three-point shooter with nearly unlimited range. Just the threat of Clark’s shooting could do so much for creating space and opportunity for other Fever players! The perfect pairing for the Fever’s young front court, with Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith dominating match-ups at the post.

Pace

Caitlin Clark’s ability to control the tempo and speed of games is second to none. 

Watch her get the pace going with quick drives in transition, hit ahead passes, and quick pull up threes.

By pace (possessions per game), the Fever were one the second slowest team in the league (94.83), despite having some games where it felt like they were flying up and down the court.

Increasing our average pace is a great opportunity for the Fever to elevate their game. It literally helps you run circles around a defense, and creates opportunities out of air.

Making good, great

Last season, the Fever finished with the fifth highest rated offense in the league with a 101.8 rating (meaning the averaged 101.8 points per 100 possessions). 

Even before adding Clark, this team has some incredibly gifted offensive players. Aliyah Boston is the reigning rookie of the year. She is versatile, strong in the paint, improving as a shooter and a really great passer.

Nalyssa Smith is one of the more gifted scorers in the league. A fantastic low post scorer and an efficient player off the bounce.

Kelsey Mitchell is an amazing athlete that is equally impressive scoring off the dribble or off the ball, and is the only perimeter player on the Fever that teams felt the need to send two defenders at.

Would it take time for these four players to mesh? Undoubtedly. Would it mean less shots for the former big three? Probably. Would it be worth it? Absolutely. 

There are still so many variables and unknowns surrounding the draft, but one thing’s for certain: the Fever have the first pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, and whether or not it’s Caitlin Clark, next year is going to be an exciting one to watch unfold.