Why the Fever could have a second-half turnaround

While many of her teammates had all offseason to prepare for the 2024 campaign, Clark had the difficult task of getting ready for her professional debut on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun just over five weeks after concluding her college career. Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA national title game on April 7.

Given the heavy slate of both total games and road contests — plus the tough strength of schedule — the Fever's slow start isn't surprising. While Clark has a top-notch co-star in Rookie of the Year and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Aliyah Boston, Indiana is still a team with a lot of room to improve.

Led by Hall of Fame forward Tamika Catchings, the Fever made the postseason in 12 consecutive campaigns from 2005-2016 and won a title in 2012. They haven't been back to the playoffs since she retired.

The franchise ushered in a new era under first-year head coach Christie Sides last season, earning more wins than the previous two seasons combined. Still, they finished just 13-27.

Over half of Indiana's defeats this year have come against the top two teams in the Association in the Sun (11-1) and New York Liberty (11-2). The Fever will have three straight winnable contests at home beginning on Thursday, facing the Atlanta Dream (5-5) for the first time in 2024 and then the Chicago Sky (4-7) and Washington Mystics (1-12). Indiana has already beaten the Sky and Mystics this month.

Clark, Boston and Co. then have a five-game road trip including tough battles against the Seattle Storm (8-4), Phoenix Mercury (6-6) and Las Vegas Aces (5-5) before returning home for three of their final five contests ahead of the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Indiana ultimately wraps up the year with nine of its final 14 contests at home.