The New York Liberty will have 33 games broadcast on national TV, while the Indiana Fever will have 41. You may wonder why the reigning champions, the New York Liberty, have fewer games. To answer that, it’s due to the Caitlin Clark effect. Despite New York winning the 2024 championship, the demand for Clark is stronger than ever for a second year. Thousands of Clark fans are eager to see the second-year player and the new roster in Indiana.
Popularity Demand
Many WNBA fans and players have questioned why the Fever has the most national TV games. Why can’t other elite teams receive the same spotlight? This is a fair point. The expectation would be for New York to have the most coverage, but in broader terms, this reflects where women’s basketball is heading: popularity versus elite teams. It isn’t a fair advantage for other teams who deserve equal spotlight and exposure, such as the Las Vegas Aces, who won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023. The Aces have 33 of 44 games televised on national TV this upcoming season. The Aces feature three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, and that is still not enough.
New Coach, New Roster — Indiana Fever
The Fever’s roster has improved, providing a few players who typically don’t receive the exposure they deserve with more visibility. A new perspective on the Fever has emerged. This is a team that finished 20-20 in 2024 under former head coach Christie Sides. Last season, the Fever secured third place in the Eastern Conference and made the playoffs, but unfortunately lost to the Connecticut Sun in the first round (2-0). The previous year, they recorded a 13-27 record under coach Sides.
A new coach and a new roster bring fresh excitement for the Fever. The roster for the 2025 season includes: Natasha Howard (Dallas Wings), Sophie Cunningham (Phoenix Mercury), Brianna Turner (Chicago Sky), Jillian Alleyne (2021 Washington Mystics), Jaelyn Brown (Dallas Wings), DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun), and Sydney Colson (Las Vegas Aces).
The Indiana Fever’s opening game is on Saturday, May 17, at 3:00 pm ET against the Chicago Sky.
