ESPN Makes Surprise Power Rankings Shift on Caitlin Clark’s Fever

The WNBA season is barely underway, but ESPN has already changed its tune on one of the league’s most anticipated teams.

Just a few weeks ago, the Indiana Fever were slotted No. 4 in ESPN’s preseason power rankings. But after a dominant opening performance—and a triple-double from Caitlin Clark—ESPN has officially bumped the Fever up to the No. 3 spot in their latest update.

It might not seem like a massive leap on paper, but in a league where preseason projections often stick for weeks, this early shift speaks volumes.

The Fever dismantled the Chicago Sky 93-58 in their opener, showing promise on both ends of the court. Clark lived up to the hype with a triple-double, but it was the team’s complete performance that earned them this early promotion. The game had everything including the confrontation between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark after a flagrant foul was called on the Indiana star. The jump past teams like Atlanta reflects how quickly ESPN’s expectations have shifted.