The only thing stopping the Indiana Fever from winning the WNBA Championship this season is injuries, and that’s the reason OPPs want them down and out so bad…. it’s obvious opposing teams have a target on Caitlin Clark’s back from the moment she got into the WNBA and that continues into her second year despite her saving the league from going into extinction.

The Indiana Fever have all the pieces. A talented young core. Momentum. Fan support that’s rewriting WNBA history books. And a once-in-a-generation star in Caitlin Clark, whose presence has turned every Fever game into a must-watch event. But as the 2025 season charges forward, it’s become increasingly clear: the biggest threat to Indiana’s title hopes isn’t talent — it’s injuries, and a league that can’t seem to protect its most important player.

From the moment Caitlin Clark set foot in the WNBA, the tone was set — and not in a good way. She wasn’t welcomed as a rising face of the league, but instead, targeted. On-court aggression. Elbow-heavy defense. Off-ball shoves. Hard screens. Trash talk. And, most disturbingly, a quiet tolerance from officials and league leadership that allowed it to fester.

Now in her second year, Clark is stronger, smarter, and still wildly productive — but the hits keep coming. And while the Fever have battled their way into playoff contention with a vastly improved supporting cast and a new identity on both ends of the floor, the physical toll on Clark and key teammates is mounting.

“There’s no denying it anymore,” one league insider said. “There’s a target on her back, and some teams are playing to take her out — not just out of rhythm, but out of the game.”

The Fever have gone from bottom-dwellers to championship dark horses in less than two seasons. Behind Clark’s dazzling passing, deep shooting, and emerging leadership, Indiana has found new life. Pair her with a rejuvenated Aliyah Boston, a breakout year from NaLyssa Smith, and a tenacious defense led by Kristy Wallace, and suddenly the Fever are one of the most exciting teams in the WNBA.

Clark is averaging 18.1 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.3 rebounds, while also leading the league in total three-pointers made. Indiana ranks top-five in offensive rating and is now flirting with home-court advantage in the playoffs.

But success hasn’t come without its scars.

The Fever’s bench has been decimated at times this season, with rotational players missing weeks due to lingering contact injuries, ankle tweaks, and muscle strains — many from high-impact physical play. And Clark herself has been hit, held, shoved, and slammed on a near-nightly basis.

Earlier this season, she narrowly avoided a knee scare after being undercut on a drive. In another game, a shoulder check from a post defender sent her into the scorer’s table. The WNBA finally acted after two Connecticut Sun players delivered back-to-back violent fouls in one game, resulting in suspensions and a team fine. But the league’s response — while appreciated — came too late for many, who argue that protecting your stars shouldn’t be reactive, but proactive.

“Let’s be honest — if this were the NBA, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation,” said one ESPN analyst. “Caitlin Clark wouldn’t be getting thrown to the floor every other game without flagrant calls and immediate ejections.”

It’s not hyperbole to say Caitlin Clark saved the WNBA. Her arrival coincided with a seismic shift in popularity, attention, and investment. Game attendance surged. Merchandise flew off the shelves. TV ratings hit all-time highs. A record-breaking rookie class followed her lead, and the league expanded its national presence with unprecedented speed.

Yet for all that she’s brought to the WNBA — both on and off the court — Clark hasn’t always felt protected by it.

While some players embraced her as a colleague and welcomed the attention she brought, others bristled — and let it show on the court. The league’s early reluctance to defend her from excessive physicality left many fans wondering: Is the WNBA trying to humble Caitlin Clark — or help her?

“She’s not asking for favoritism,” said one Fever assistant. “She’s asking for fairness.”

It’s clear by now: the Indiana Fever are a threat, and not just because of Clark. The team’s growth has been rapid and intentional. Their chemistry is improving. Their scoring is diverse. Their defense is gritty. They play unselfish basketball with intensity, and they have one of the best pick-and-roll duos in the league in Clark and Boston.

Opponents know what happens if this team stays healthy.

If Clark is on the floor, orchestrating the offense and bombing logo threes…
If Boston stays dominant in the paint…
If Smith and Wallace keep defending at a high level…
Indiana could win it all.

And that’s why some teams are resorting to physicality, borderline tactics, and psychological warfare. It’s easier to knock someone down than to catch up.

“It’s not basketball anymore, it’s targeting,” one Fever player said anonymously. “But we see it. We know why they’re coming at us.”

Through it all, Caitlin Clark hasn’t complained much publicly. She’s taken the hits, absorbed the criticism, and continued to play at an elite level. But those around her have noticed the toll — not just on her body, but on her mindset.

She’s admitted that it gets frustrating. The lack of calls. The double standards. The media scrutiny. The micro-analyzed postgame handshakes and off-the-court commentary. No other rookie — or second-year player, for that matter — has carried the burden of being both a team leader and the face of a league.

Yet she continues to deliver.

“I’m just trying to hoop,” Clark said earlier this season. “That’s what I’ve always done. I’ll let everything else take care of itself.”

But how long can she sustain it?

If the league wants to continue its rise — if it truly wants to build around its young stars — then it must take stronger action to protect them. The physical play, if left unchecked, will not only shorten careers but dampen the product the league is trying to sell to a rapidly expanding fanbase.

Letting star players get battered — especially one as visible and valuable as Clark — doesn’t make the WNBA look tough. It makes it look outdated.

“The league has to decide: Do we want rivalries — or do we want vendettas?” said one national columnist. “Because there’s a difference.”

Absolutely — if they stay healthy.

With Clark leading the offense, Boston anchoring the post, and a now-confident roster gelling into a true contender, the Indiana Fever have the talent, coaching, and chemistry to make a deep playoff run. They’ve beaten top teams. They’ve learned from losses. And they play with a chip on their shoulder that’s growing sharper by the week.

But the margin for error is razor thin. An untimely injury. A missed call. A controversial ejection. One bad hit. And the season could unravel in an instant.

That’s the edge they walk — and that’s what opposing teams are betting on.

The Indiana Fever didn’t ask to be the WNBA’s headline act. Caitlin Clark didn’t demand to carry the league’s future on her shoulders. But here they are, changing the narrative, reshaping the fanbase, and forcing the league to grow up fast.

The only thing stopping this team from lifting a WNBA Championship trophy this season is injuries — and a league culture that has too often looked the other way while its brightest star gets knocked to the floor.

But don’t mistake the bruises for weakness. If Clark and the Fever stay standing, they might just run the table — and prove that no amount of targeting, hard fouls, or hate can stop what’s already been set in motion.

Indiana’s time is coming. The only question is: Will the league let it happen?