Indiana Fever is loaded. From opening at +1300 to win it all to now sitting at +450, they’ve played the cards right in free agency. Among some top names, snagging Sydney Colson from the Las Vegas Aces was truly a great move. The two-time WNBA champion is stepping in as the perfect backup point guard for Caitlin Clark. But why did she leave the back-to-back champs for Indiana?

After spending three seasons with the Aces, Colson decided it was time for a change, and honestly, this might be one of the smartest moves for both her and the Fever. The best part is, as much as the Indy management is happy to have her, she looks all in, too. And she is already sending warnings to the rest of the league.

Talking about the Fever’s growth and how Clark will now enter the season knowing exactly what she’s doing, Colson didn’t hold back. “It’ll be a much easier transition. And now they have a year under their belts together, which will be scary,” she said. Yes, you heard that right—SCARY!

If last year was about figuring things out, this year is about domination, and the W veteran just knows that this team is going to be a threat for the other 12.

In a conversation with Boardroom, she also revealed why she chose Indiana. “It was a variety of things,” the hooper shared. She pointed to the Fever’s new coaching staff, her connection with Kelsey Mitchell, and the presence of vets like DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard—players she’s admired from afar. Also, her former teammate, Kate Martin (CC’s bestie-cum-ex-teammate) spoke highly of the Fever superstar.

And obviously, there’s the allure of what Clark, Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston built in the second half of last season. “I just look at them as a young, hungry team,” Colson said. With the veteran leadership of Bonner, Howard, and Colson, the Fever finally has the experience they need to go deeper into the playoffs.

And make no mistake, the LV Aces former is bringing a wealth of experience to the table. A six-time playoff vet, she was part of the Aces’ back-to-back title runs. Sure, with career averages of 2.8 points and 1.6 assists, the numbers don’t scream superstar, but her impact goes beyond the stat sheet.

She shot 40.4% from the field and 37.8% from deep last season, plays tough defense, and knows how to win. Add that to the Fever’s already solid core and suddenly, Indiana looks like a serious contender. The only thing they lacked before was playoff experience. Well, they’ve got that now.

And they’re not done yet. The Fever will look to add even more impact players in the upcoming 2025 WNBA Draft. They won’t have a first-round pick this year, having traded the No. 8 pick for Cunningham, but they do hold two second-round selections (No. 19 and No. 20) and a third-rounder (No. 33). So the depth is in check.

With all these pieces falling into place, the real question is—does this boost Clark’s MVP chances?

Can Caitlin Clark be the 2025 MVP?

Alright…Clark is already in the conversation. She entered the WNBA fresh off an NCAA national championship appearance, then turned around and led the Fever to their first playoff berth since 2016. She put up 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game as a rookie.

That earned her the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year (nearly unanimously) and a fourth-place finish in MVP voting behind A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. And now? The 23-year-old got the second-best odds (+240) to win the 2025 MVP, trailing only Wilson (+200).

With a stronger roster, a full year of experience, and an entire offseason to prepare, Clark is primed for an even bigger leap. Even Fever head coach Stephanie White sees it. “She is stronger, first and foremost,” White said. “She figured out right away that ‘I need to get stronger, I can’t get knocked around as much.’ She’s done a great job of getting in the weight room and focusing on her strength.”

 The work is being put in. The team is being built around her. And the WNBA better be ready. Now, all we do is wait for May.