It’d be an understatement to say that Caitlin Clark has taken the basketball world by storm over the last few seasons. The WNBA’s No. 1 selection has turned into a bona fide superstar in the sports world. As she prepares for her rookie campaign, many are wondering whether her talent is enough to carry the Indiana Fever to a championship so early in her career.

The Fever currently have the fifth-best odds to win the WNBA Championship this season. Indiana is priced at 23/1 at FanDuel Sportsbook following Clark’s arrival, which is some decent value considering where this team was at the end of last year. Should bettors trust or fade Clark’s Fever in this spot?

Should bettors fade Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever in their quest to win a WNBA Championship this season?

It’s not often that teams go from worst to first in one year. It’s only happened once in WNBA history when the Detroit Shock lifted the title in 2003 following a 9-23 campaign the season prior. They spoiled the Los Angeles Sparks’ chance at a three-peat that year, something the Fever will be looking to rob the Los Vegas Aces of this season.

While Indiana (13-27) was not the worst team in the WNBA last year, it was among the bottom dwellers. Only the Seattle Storm (11-29) and Phoenix Mercury (9-31) were worse. However, the Fever did finish in the basement of the Eastern Conference Standings.

Clark — alongside reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston — will be looking to turn the team’s fortunes around this year. A tall task lies ahead of the dynamic duo, and while I believe they will lift many trophies throughout their careers, I’d fade the Fever this season.

If you wanted to get in on the action and bet on a historic turnaround from Indiana, you missed the train. The Fever’s odds to win the title at FanDuel Sportsbook were bet down from +3300 to +2300 in the last three days alone.

Clark and Boston are undoubtedly going to make some noise this season. Boston is only going to continue to improve and challenge for the unofficial title of the most dominant paint player in the league. Meanwhile, Clark (-700) is the runaway favorite to succeed her new teammate as the Rookie of the Year.

A run at the postseason is in store for Indiana. Barring injury, a 13-27 campaign is no longer on the cards. However, a title challenge looks to be too hefty of an ask with such a young core.

If there is a team that could ascend the league standings in a short span, it’ll likely be the Storm. Seattle added Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith to complement an already-established star in Jewell Lloyd. The experience on the Storm’s roster gives them a much more realistic shot at title contention, as their +1000 odds display.

Furthermore, the giants of the sport don’t look ready to be dethroned just yet. A’ja Wilson and the Aces return their core as they look to become only the second team in league history to go back-to-back-to-back (Houston Comets, 1997 to 2000). Breanna Stewart and the Liberty are desperate for the franchise’s first title following a runner-up finish in 2023, as well.

For all of these reasons, I recommend fading Clark and Co. in favor of another title contender with more experience, such as the Storm. 

The 2024 WNBA regular season tips off on May 14 at 6 p.m. CT when the New York Liberty take on the Washington Mystics. Let’s take a look at the title odds (as of May 6, 2024) via FanDuel Sportsbook:

2024 WNBA Championship odds

Las Vegas Aces (+100)

New York Liberty (+230)

Seattle Storm (+1000)

Connecticut Sun (+1200)

Indiana Fever (+2300)

Dallas Wings (+2600)

Phoenix Mercury (+2600)

Atlanta Dream (+4200)

Minnesota Lynx (+4200)

Chicago Sky (+6500)

Washington Mystics (+8500)

Los Angeles Sparks (+10000)