Khamzat Chimaev wants Sean Strickland rematch in Abu Dhabi
Khamzat Chimaev requests a rematch with Sean Strickland in Abu Dhabi after losing his title.
The Indiana Fever's initial WNBA power ranking reveals challenges despite a talented roster including Caitlin Clark. The team's early hype faces scrutiny as they aim for championship contention.

Caitlin Clark's Fever get rude awakening in first WNBA power ranking originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indiana Fever's hype train has been derailed just a little bit.
True, the Fever's core of talent -- highlighted by their big three of Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell -- will generate plenty of optimism that Indiana can compete for a WNBA championship this season.
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But the nature of Indiana's start to the 2026 season has prompted something of a rethink. In short: the Fever have to improve on defense.
The Fever have tumbled from fourth position in ESPN's preseason power ranking following their season-opening loss to the . ESPN's first in-season rankings of 2026 have the Fever 10th, behind the 0-1 and the 1-1 -- who suffered in WNBA history.
The Indiana Fever's key players include Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell.
The Fever's hype train was derailed due to their performance in the first WNBA power ranking, which raised concerns about their championship potential.
Caitlin Clark is facing challenges related to her defensive performance, which has been criticized as among the worst in the league.
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"The good news for the Fever is that their big three combined for 73 points," wrote ESPN's Michael Voepel. "The bad news is that wasn't enough to evade a 107-104 loss to visiting Dallas, which shot 59% from the field. Indiana will need to show improvement on defense."
Last season, the Fever ranked seventh out of 13 teams in defensive efficiency, or points allowed per 100 possessions.
While that was a marked improvement from previous seasons -- Indiana had not ranked higher than seventh in defensive rating since 2016 -- that ranking probably isn't good enough to reach the WNBA Finals, where the Fever haven't played in 11 years.
No one should doubt Clark and company's ability to produce elite numbers offensively. It's the other side of the ball where concerns will continue to grow if the Fever don't respond Wednesday against the Los Angeles Sparks.