WNBA Win Total Betting: How Many Games Will the Indiana Fever Win in 2024?
Despite missing the playoffs for the seventh straight year in 2023, expectations are sky-high for the Indiana Fever entering the 2024 season.
Their recent affinity for the bottom of the WNBA standings has allowed them to load up on young talent -- this year of course headlined by No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark.
After leading her Iowa Hawkeyes to consecutive runner-up finishes in the NCAA Tournament, Clark will unquestionably raise the floor for this Fever squad.
But can she help spur them to 21 wins?
That's the number they'll need to reach in order to hit the over on their 2024 win total, according to the WNBA Win Totals at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Let's dive into the Fever's 2024 outlook and break down what we can expect from Indiana this season.
Win totals via the WNBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds subject to change after this article is published.
Indiana Fever Win Total Odds
Indiana Fever Over/Under 20.5 Wins
- Over: -125
- Under: -102
Why Indiana Could Win Over 20.5 Games (-125)
The Fever only won 13 games last season, and they haven't sniffed 20 wins since 2015.
But, they've been stockpiling talent for years and finally found their connecting piece via Caitlin Clark.
Clark obviously will draw the headlines -- and rightfully so. She averaged 28.4 points per game in college, and not only is the overwhelming (-700) favorite to win Rookie of the Year, but Clark is tied for the third-shortest odds to win MVP (+1200).
As good of a scorer as she is, it's her 8.2 assists per game that could prove most critical for the Fever if they want to win over 20.5 games.
A gifted playmaker, Clark should immediately slot in as Indiana's starting point guard. She'll have plenty of talented scorers to set up, including reigning Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, 2022 No. 2 overall pick Nalyssa Smith, and the Fever's leading scorer five years running, Kelsey Mitchell.
Mitchell (18.2 points per game), Smith (15.5), and Boston (14.5) were all high-level scorers last season, and they should only see more open looks with Clark running point.
Last year's starting point guard Erica Wheeler should transition to the bench seamlessly, and her leadership cannot be overstated.
In addition to drafting Clark, the Fever signed Katie Lou Samuelson and Damiris Dantas -- two forwards with height and the ability to stretch the floor -- to protected contracts.
Those two help give the Fever a ton of roster flexibility. In theory, Indiana should have shooting at almost every position. That should only elevate a team that finished fifth in offensive rating last season despite getting the fourth-fewest percentage of their points from three (24.9%).
After winning five of their final eight games to close out the year, there's certainly reason for optimism with the Fever. While 21 wins would represent a steep jump from last season, the addition of Caitlin Clark and continued development of Boston and Smith give Indiana a good shot of breaking out and hitting the over on their 2024 win total.
Why Indiana Could Win Under 20.5 Games (-102)
For as much optimism that surrounds the Indiana Fever, there are question marks, and it's certainly not out of the question for them to win under 20.5 games and still have a successful season.
Right off the bat, it's fair to question how Caitlin Clark's game translates to the W. Clark registered an otherworldly 40.1% usage rate and attempted 22.7 shots per game
Last year, only Seattle's Jewell Loyd had a usage north of 30% and just 15 players were over 25% in the WNBA. Loyd was also the only player to average more than 20 shots per game.
Long-term, there shouldn't be many question marks about Clark, but there's certainly a bump in competition going from college to the pros. It wouldn't shock anyone to see her need a few weeks to get feet under her.
It's also fair to question if Indiana has enough shooting. Notably, Nalyssa Smith regressed to 28.4% from three last season after shooting 38.1% from deep as a rookie. Aliyah Boston attempted just 10 threes as a rookie, so if Smith continues to struggle from deep, that could present the Fever with a bit of a spacing issue.
But the biggest factor for Indiana winning under 20.5 games is their defense. Last year, the Fever had the second-worst defensive rating in the WNBA. They gave up the second-most threes, highest three-point field goal percentage, and second-most fastbreak points per game. At point guard, Clark might not rectify these woes herself.
Granted, their paint defense was sound, but perimeter D is still a question mark... one I'm not sure the Fever have an answer to. Their offense may prove so good it won't matter how many points they give up, but if the Fever go under 20.5 wins, the perimeter defense will likely be a major factor.
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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.