With the WNBA 2026 season just days away from kick-off, there's a debate on which franchise has the strongest young core in the competition. And the renowned basketball analyst, Noah Dalzell, opted for the Indiana Fever in that argument.

While speaking on the WNBA Today on CLNS, the analyst claimed that despite getting only 15% of GM votes, the Indiana Fever has the most promising young core. She cited the presence of Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark as the primary factors behind her opinion.

"I think I would pick the Fever," she said. "Because you have Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, back-to-back Rookies of the Year. I think they would have been my pick,” she went on to add.

Although Noah had the choice of picking the Dallas Wings, which has Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, the Washington Mystics with Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, and the Seattle Storm, consisting of Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga, she vouched for the Fever.

Well, the facts back her opinion, too. With Clark and Boston, the Indiana Fever now hold the No. 1 picks from the 2023 and 2024 drafts. Each of them also won the Rookie of the Year award in back-to-back seasons.

Caitlin Clark, with an 8.5 assists per game average and incredible shooting range, brings the offensive spark to the Fever, while Aliyah Boston’s playmaking and scoring abilities make them one of the most lethal duos in the competition.  

Last year, the Boston-Clark partnership did not fructify that well since Boston could only play 13 games due to a groin injury. But with both of them being healthy and fit, the Fever would hope to go beyond the semis in the 2026 season.

Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark are fit to start the season

Last season, Boston scored 760 points, while Clark added 214 points and had 64 defensive rebounds before getting injured. Their combined effort revived the reputation of the struggling Fever franchise and also ranked them No.1 on ESPN’s CW/44 from Under-25 players in 2025 with 21.1 points.

Although Boston missed the first two preseason games after sustaining a leg injury during the Unrivalled season, she is fit to play again. Just like her, Clark is also cleared to play after facing an injury scare in a preseason game against Dallas.

This means the pair would be able to start the 2026 season together, and that could result in more points, more defensive rebounds, and more wins for the Fever.

So, when the Indiana Fever start their season against the Dallas Wings on 9th May, all eyes will be on the camaraderie between Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.

But, as Dalzell counted them as the most promising young side, do you think that Clark and Boston will be able to lead the Fever to their second WNBA title this year?

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Written by

Koushik Biswas

Edited by

Souvik Roy