INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 30: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 questions being called for a delay of game against the Dallas Wings during a preseason game on April 30, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA APR 30 Preseason Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260434
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 30: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 questions being called for a delay of game against the Dallas Wings during a preseason game on April 30, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA APR 30 Preseason Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260434
ESPN analyst Lawrencia Moten argued that the Indiana Fever's offense was less predictable without Caitlin Clark, citing the team's ball movement and the ease with which opponents guarded a Clark-centered system.
During WNBA on ESPN, analyst Lawrencia Moten offered her analysis of the Fever's offensive dynamics. Moten believes the Indiana Fever plays better overall without her than with her.
“This is my hot take,” said Moten. “Honestly, the Indiana Fever played some of their best team basketball without Caitlin Clark, and that's because she's like the sun that that offense kind of orbits around. The ball is constantly in her hands, which just made their offense extremely easy to guard."
Moten further emphasized that the Fever's offense becomes much more mixed and unpredictable as the likes of Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston step up as the core without Clark.
The Fever surprisingly reached the WNBA semifinals last season even without Clark on the court, as multiple lower-body injuries sidelined her throughout the year.
Mitchell and Boston led the Fever to a 24-20 record and a WNBA semifinal appearance.
But the story has a twist again if we go back to the statistics. The team's winning percentage was much higher with Clark (61.5%, 8-5) than it was without her (51.6%, 16-15).
Moten was not the only one to have doubted Clark ahead of the new season, as she also has critics in the front offices around the league.
WNBA General Managers Snub Caitlin Clark in Latest Survey
Every year, the WNBA releases the results of the polls of the questions they ask the general managers of each team. This year, 15 of them answered 42 questions each.
While Caitlin Clark was the leader of most of the polls surrounding her last year, the GMs have taken a step back on her talents for this year.
One notable question asked, "If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the WNBA, who would it be?" Paige Bueckers led this survey, receiving 33% of the votes.
Clark was the winner of this poll last year with 50% of the votes. But this year, she tied with four-time MVP A'ja Wilson at just 20% votes each.
Similarly, voters chose Chelsea Gray as the best point guard in the WNBA, awarding her 73% of the votes, while Clark received just 20%. She was the top pick last year.
The survey was released ahead of the Fever's season opener, when Clark and her team are set to face Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on May 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Do you think the now fully healthy Caitlin Clark will utilize this chance to silence her critics from the first game itself?
Written by
Joy Bassy
Edited by
Siddharth Rawat