May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Chicago Sky guard Kia Nurse (11) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark Conveys How Fever Coach's Challenge Inspired Physical Play

Originally posted on Indiana Fever on SI | By Grant Young | Last updated May 20, 2025 10:56 AM ET

After the 2024 Olympics break, the Indiana Fever were arguably the most lethal offense in the WNBA. This was largely owed to the excellence of Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark (who was still a rookie) in the backcourt combined with what Aliyah Boston brought in the paint.

Given that Clark is now fully rested and spent the offseason preparing for another WNBA season, along with the Fever adding several weapons to their roster, the expectation is that the team will be elite on offense once again.

The real question is how they'll fare on defense. In 2024, the Fever's 107.5 defensive rating was the second-worst in the league. Of course, the Fever have a new coaching staff this year, which starts with Stephanie White. But they also brought Briann January back (who was a seven-time WNBA All-Defensive Team honoree and a key part of the Fever's 2012 WNBA Championship as a player), who was part of White's coaching staff with the Connecticut Sun during the past two seasons.

we have hired Briann January as an assistant coach.

read more: https://t.co/SJ0OTzbVHm pic.twitter.com/2dzy5LRVFX
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) April 2, 2025

January's focus is on defense. And when speaking with the media on May 20, Caitlin Clark conveyed how January's impact has already been felt.

"I think defensively, I think Bri[anna January] has really challenged our group to be physical, to be up in their space," Clark said. "But also, if you're going to be physical, and you're gonna deny passing lanes, you're gonna try to get steals, you're gonna jam up handoffs. You have to have help-side... So I think they've really challenged us in that way."

Caitlin Clark speaks on where the Fever need to improve. pic.twitter.com/2YkxCQMHi5
— C (@C038254) May 19, 2025

While it's a small sample size of only one game, the Fever's 67.4 defensive rating against the Chicago Sky shows that January's challenge is paying dividends.

This article first appeared on Indiana Fever on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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