Despite Caitlin Clark playing just 13 games this season, the Indiana Fever are sitting in fifth place in the WNBA standings and are four games above .500. With the WNBA trade deadline right around the corner, the Fever is cementing itself as a true championship threat.
WNBA insider Sabreena Merchant believes that the team could make a big move. During the latest episode of The Athletic's No Offseason podcast, Merchant proposed a hypothetical trade that would send Damiris Dantas to Connecticut in exchange for former WNBA MVP and eight-time All-Star Tina Charles.
"I do think having a backup center they trust a little bit more might help," Merchant said. "I'm not sure Damiris Dantas is that player. Breanna Turner, not sure is that player, Michaela Timson very young. So this one is Tina Charles to the Indiana Fever for Damiris Dantas and a 2026 first-round pick."
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Charles is averaging 16.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 28 games this season. Her scoring numbers have been up from last season (14.9 ppg in 39 games).
WNBA legend shuts down narrative that Fever are better without Caitlin Clark
This season, the Fever have continued to amaze despite the loss of Caitlin Clark. With the team posting a 7-3 record in their last 10 games, some believe the team is better without Clark.
WNBA legend Candace Parker disagrees. In an episode of her new podcast "Post Moves" with Aliyah Boston this week, other players may step up big when the team needs them most, but at the end of the day, they aren't better without the 2024 Rookie of the Year.
"For those naysayers out there. 'You're better without Caitlin!' They're not," Parker said. "They're not better without Caitlin, but I do feel like [at] times like this, different people step up. Caitlin is one of those people that has a high IQ. So, I know she's watching and I know she's going to come back and make you all that much better.
"It honestly is scary, because not only are you allowing other people to step up. But you're allowing Caitlin to then survey and realize how she can add. I said from the get-go, Indiana Fever, scary."
The Fever are entering a critical stretch in the season's last 14 games. Tankathon's strength of schedule calculator currently ranks the club as having the fourth most challenging remaining schedule, trailing only Dallas, Minnesota and New York.
