For months, WNBA legend Cheryl Swoopes was one of the loudest critics of the Indiana Fever and rookie phenom Caitlin Clark. From questioning locker room chemistry to hinting at dissatisfaction among players, Swoopes seemed unconvinced by the hype surrounding Clark or the Fever’s rebuilding project. But now, in one of the most surprising turns in recent basketball commentary, Swoopes has flipped her stance—and it’s sending shockwaves through the women’s basketball world.
Yes, the same Cheryl Swoopes who once implied the Fever were a dysfunctional franchise has now declared them potential championship contenders. And not in a casual, throwaway line. She went deep. She praised individual players, broke down their roster strengths, and even said what many fans have been waiting to hear for months: that Caitlin Clark, Aaliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and the Fever as a whole have what it takes to go all the way.
So what changed?
Swoopes now claims that the Indiana Fever’s offseason moves—particularly the addition of veteran forward DeWanna Bonner—completely shifted the team’s identity. Bonner brings elite defense, playoff experience, and a leadership presence that complements Clark’s offensive firepower and Boston’s inside dominance.
In a recent segment, Swoopes said, “I think the Indiana Fever went from just being in the playoffs last season to potentially winning a championship.” That’s a far cry from her earlier statements, which included claiming players didn’t want to play in Indiana and warning that Clark’s presence might be more disruptive than productive.
Social media immediately exploded in reaction to Swoopes’ sudden pivot. “Now she wants to jump on the bandwagon?” one fan wrote. Others noted that while her take seemed sincere, it still felt jarring to hear such enthusiastic praise from someone who had spent the better part of the previous year casting doubt on the team’s chemistry and trajectory.
To Swoopes’ credit, she didn’t just shower the Fever with empty compliments. She gave credit where it was due—highlighting Bonner’s two-way impact, Kelsey Mitchell’s scoring ability, and Boston’s continued growth as a dominant post presence. In other words, Swoopes kept it basketball. And that’s exactly what fans had been asking for.
The bigger question now is: what really caused the shift?
Some believe the pressure from fans and analysts finally got to Swoopes. Her past criticisms—especially those aimed at Clark—sparked backlash across social media. Clark’s meteoric rise, record-breaking ratings, jersey sales, and elite-level play quickly disproved the skeptics. Staying in the “Clark Doubter” camp was becoming an increasingly unpopular (and arguably indefensible) position.
Others believe Swoopes saw something undeniable during the Fever’s recent games and practices: chemistry. Growth. Maturity. For all the early season noise, the Fever have started to look like a team coming into its own. And with Bonner, Natasha Howard, and other veterans now in the mix, Indiana has the blend of youth and experience necessary for a deep postseason run.
And let’s not ignore the numbers. Caitlin Clark is averaging 8.4 assists per game, leading the league. The Fever’s offensive efficiency skyrockets when she’s on the floor. Aaliyah Boston is averaging a near double-double. Mitchell is a walking bucket, as Swoopes herself said. And the Fever, once relegated to bottom-feeder status, are now selling out arenas and dominating national broadcasts. It’s not a fluke—it’s a movement.
Swoopes also made a critical point about Bonner’s impact: her defense. In a league where offense often grabs headlines, it’s players like Bonner—who can lock down opponents and bring mental toughness—that become invaluable during playoff time. It’s this piece, Swoopes noted, that might be the final puzzle piece the Fever needed.
What’s even more revealing is how Swoopes addressed Clark’s evolution. Previously, she had dismissed Clark’s college stat lines as a product of Iowa’s system. Now, she’s acknowledging the 6’0” rookie’s playmaking, poise, and ability to elevate teammates. Swoopes even went so far as to say Clark has significantly improved her defense—a key area critics assumed would be her downfall.
“It’s hard to push that resentment on someone like Bonner or Natasha Howard,” one analyst said, noting that even the most vocal Clark critics can’t deny the Fever’s transformation. Clark’s improvement, paired with the growth of the Fever’s core, forced a reassessment.
The biggest surprise? Swoopes admitted she was impressed with Clark’s offseason work. “You can see how much stronger she got… you know she was in the gym,” she said, nodding to Clark’s drive and willingness to grow. For a player once labeled “overhyped” and “just a shooter,” that acknowledgment from a Hall of Famer speaks volumes.
Still, some fans remain skeptical of the timing. Why now? Why after so many months of negativity?
“Better late than never,” one Fever fan replied online. Others pointed out that pivoting after seeing results isn’t a bad thing—it’s responsible analysis. And perhaps that’s the most generous interpretation of Swoopes’ shift: a veteran analyst willing to change her mind when the evidence demanded it.
We’re also seeing the effects of a team transforming before our eyes. The Fever are no longer a project—they’re a contender. The energy in the locker room, the leadership from veterans, and the nightly brilliance from Clark are creating something special. For Swoopes, a player who won four WNBA championships, that championship DNA is easy to recognize.
Her conclusion? “The Fever have put the pieces together. They’re ready.”
That’s a powerful statement—and one that, just months ago, would have seemed unthinkable coming from Cheryl Swoopes.
At the heart of this shift is not just a change in opinion about one team—it’s a moment of validation for Clark, Boston, and the entire Fever roster. It’s the recognition that their rise isn’t a fluke, a media creation, or beginner’s luck. It’s real. It’s earned. And it’s just getting started.
So whether Swoopes’ reversal was based on hard evidence, social media pressure, or simply the eye test, one thing’s for sure: the Indiana Fever are forcing even their harshest critics to admit the truth.
Caitlin Clark is no longer just the face of the future.
She’s the face of the championship conversation.
And now, even Cheryl Swoopes agrees.
