The Indiana Fever will have one player is not playing while another is uncertain amid Caitlin Clark‘s preseason debut against the Dallas Wings on May 3.
Fever forward Damiris Dantas is away from the team at the moment due to a visa issue as reported by a league source via the Indianapolis Star. Dantas, a Brazilian citizen, has played in the WNBA for eight years and was returning to the U.S. after playing in a Turkish pro league.
Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell remains doubtful due to an ankle injury sustained during her time at the 3×3 U.S. national team camp in April. Mitchell has been with the Fever for the past six seasons.
Fever head coach Christie Sides informed reporters on April 28 via the Star that Mitchell got an ankle injury right before she was supposed to go to 3×3. She is recovering and her condition is being assessed day by day. Despite the injury, Mitchell has been seen working hard, cycling, and taking shots. She is progressing faster than anticipated.
Clark is in good health and ready for her long-awaited WNBA debut. The former Iowa standout gained fame in the last two years due to her NCAA all-time scoring record and being the top pick in the WNBA Draft last month.
Fever's Head Coach Christie Sides acknowledges that
the team is under a lot of scrutiny this season. “the eyes are on us” this season. This is different from a Fever team that has not achieved a record above .500 since 2016 and has received consecutive No. 1 picks since 2023.
The addition of Clark and 2023 top pick Aliyah Bostonis expected to change that. Nevertheless, Sides does not expect automatic improvement even with the presence of elite talent.
Sides emphasized to her team on April 30 via Fever social mediathat everything must be earned and they should adopt a 'no deposit, no return' mindset.
An analyst expresses a bold prediction about Caitlin Clark's future
While Clark is not talking about winning a championship for the Fever in 2024, ESPN analyst Pat McAfee is optimistic.
“Caitlin Clark’s gonna win the next six championships,” McAfee said during his show on May 3. “Aces, congrats on your little run. That was fun, wasn’t it? Welcome to the Fever’s W.”
Clark excelled at Iowa and led the Hawkeyes to consecutive Final Four appearances but did not secure a national title. The Fever's only championship was in 2012, and they have not won since then.
If Clark can win six championships, it would be comparable to the achievements of American professional sports legends Michael Jordan with six titles, Tom Brady with seven, and the late Bill Russell with 11. Clark's primary focus for this year is to lead her team to the playoffs.
Clark stated in a press conference on May 1 that while winning a championship is the organization's ultimate goal, the immediate objective for this year is to reach the playoffs and gradually build a strong foundation. She emphasized the team's potential and the need to take one step at a time and not rely solely on one outcome.
