Caitlin Clark feeling 'stronger'; camp vibes 'really good' - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — A new chapter kicked off this weekend as the new-look Indiana Fever began a training camp headlined by star Caitlin Clark and just four other returners. But the reviews through two days of practice are so far, so good.

«I think the vibes are really good,» Clark said Tuesday, speaking for the first time this preseason. «Obviously we're probably not in the heat of battle yet, we're out here competing with one another, but at the same time, everybody's here supporting one another and having fun and enjoying it.»

Added All-Star teammate Kelsey Mitchell: «Everything is just absolutely new. It feels really good. It's kind of like when you take your clothes out of the dryer. It feels fresh.»

Coming off their first playoff berth since 2016 and an aggressive run in free agency, the Fever enter the 2025 WNBA season as early championship contenders. Their ascension has been supercharged by Clark, who as a rookie finished fourth in MVP voting. While most of her counterparts spent this offseason playing overseas or in the new Unrivaled league, Clark opted not to play organized basketball, though she did stay in the area to work on her game.

«I thought it was going to feel long. It really didn't. It felt really short,» Clark said. «We played a lot of pickup. We were in here all the time. I was in here with [player development coach] Keith [Porter] all the time. Had teammates coming in and out all offseason, working with me, wanting to get better.»

Clark's main focus in the offseason was getting stronger to better handle the physicality of the pros, and she feels the results already.

«I certainly feel a lot stronger,» Clark said. «I'm a pretty self-aware person. I knew that was going to be a huge part of [the