Why Caitlin Clark’s absence helps Indiana Fever play their ‘best team basketball,’ explains WNBA analyst

It is a classic trade-off between star-driven efficiency and collective unpredictability.

Why a more balanced offense changed Indiana Fever’s approach

Moten expanded on how the team adapted when Clark was unavailable.

“Now, without her in the lineup, Stephanie White had to decide who else was going to get in the mix, and their offense became so much more diverse. We saw Kelsey Mitchell have a tremendous season,” she continued.

“Lexie Hull got in the fold. Aliyah Boston had another dominant season. All because they had to do it without Caitlin Clark, and that made their offense extremely hard to guard,” Moten concluded.

Without Clark’s 31 percent usage rate, Indiana’s offense became less centralized, forcing multiple players to create and share responsibility.

That shift allowed players like Kelsey Mitchell, who averaged over 20 points per game, and Aliyah Boston, who recorded multiple double-doubles, to take on expanded roles.

The Fever’s offensive rating dropped from a top-tier level with Clark to closer to league average without her, even as their defense improved and opponents scored fewer points per possession.

That contrast is what makes the debate so compelling. Without Clark, Indiana may become less predictable and more balanced. But with her, they still possess one of the most dynamic offensive engines in the league.

Read more:

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• Why Jason Whitlock thinks the WNBA has ‘brainwashed’ Caitlin Clark
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