The Fever entered the season with big goals. Those goals became less and less realistic with every injury. Caitlin Clark played only 13 games before eventually being ruled out for the rest of the season. Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, Chloe Bibby, and Aari McDonald also suffered season-ending injuries, causing the Fever to sign Odyssey Sims, Aerial Powers, and Shey Peddy to fill the massive holes on the roster.
Nevertheless, the Fever made the playoffs. Led by Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, the Fever secured one of the final postseason spots. They currently sit in seventh place, and, while their chances of winning a series are slim, just making the playoffs with such a depleted roster was a major success.
It certainly says good things about the resiliency of the players on the team, as well as Boston’s and Mitchell’s talent. However, it probably says more about the Fever’s future potential than the present. The Fever made the playoffs without Caitlin Clark and several other key players, so just imagine how good the team could be next season.
After the Fever’s 94-65 win against the Washington Mystics that clinched a playoff spot, Stephanie White said, “I look at this group and the roots that have been grown throughout the course of this season and thinking about not just where we are now and the opportunity that we have in the playoffs, but where we’re going to be in the future.”
The Fever still hope to win a championship in the near future
This season was a step back for the Fever. After making the playoffs last season, they were supposed to win a few games and secure as much playoff experience as possible. That is unlikely to happen with all the injuries and considering that the Fever will enter the offseason as one of the lowest seeds.
That doesn’t change the Fever’s long-term goals of winning a championship. They still have one of the best young cores in the league, and several players took their games to the next level. Kelsey Mitchell went from an All-Star to a borderline MVP candidate and almost sure-fire All-WNBA selection. Aliyah Boston expanded her playmaking abilities, and Lexie Hull is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
Winning in the playoffs takes a lot of grit and resiliency, the ability to overcome any type of adversity, and a team with a strong connection. This season helped the Fever build up all of those things, and that will be invaluable in the future. It should also worry the rest of the league because, if injuries don’t derail another season, the Fever will enter the new season better than ever.