Caitlin Clark: Fever Signing DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard 'Exactly What We Needed'

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is enthusiastic about the impact she'll believe the team's two biggest offseason additions will have on the court.

On the heels of their playoff trip last year, the Fever signed six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner and three-time WNBA champion Natasha Howard.

"They know what it takes to win, they know what it takes to get to the Finals, they know what it takes to win championships," Clark told reporters of the pair. "I think it's exactly what we needed in our locker room. But also they're not just really good basketball players, they're great leaders and great people and I know the front office prioritized that."

At 37, Bonner remained an effective two-way player for the Connecticut Sun in 2024. She averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals while appearing in all 40 games.

Howard, meanwhile, has noticeably fallen off from her peak with the Seattle Storm, yet she remains a solid inside presence. She averaged 16.9 points and 7.5 boards in her two seasons with the Dallas Wings.

There wasn't one move the Fever could've realistically made this offseason that would've vaulted them to the top of the WNBA title race for 2025.

Sure, Breanna Stewart is a free agent, but common sense would have her returning to the New York Liberty. Then the next best free agents were Alyssa Thomas, Nneka Ogwumike and Kelsey Plum, and none of the three would've single-handedly put Indiana ahead of reigning champion New York.

By adding Bonner and Howard, the former in particular, the Fever are at least making themselves look like more of a draw for established stars moving forward, and a stronger roster should help them move up the standings after a sixth-place finish.

Building a championship contender, even with young talents in Clark and Aliyah Boston, can be a long process when you're starting from the ground floor.

The Seattle Storm drafted Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart first overall in back-to-back years (2015 and 2016). It wasn't until 2018 when the Storm won the first of their two titles over a three-year span.

The Las Vegas Aces likewise didn't get their first title until A'ja Wilson's fifth year in the WNBA.

More than anything, the Fever this offseason laid a great foundation for 2026, when Clark and Boston will be a year older and almost every notable veteran will hit the open market.