While the Indiana Fever has not by any means been the most dominant team in the WNBA this season, a report from ESPN Insights suggests Caitlin Clark and co. the favourites to win the championship this season.

ESPN Analytics released its updated championship probabilities following the All-Star break, and Indiana landed in the top spot. The Fever landed at the top with a 24.1% chance, followed by reigning champions Las Vegas Aces with 22.6%.

There is no denying the amount of talent Stephanie White's team possesses, maybe the most in the WNBA. However, the Fever are currently fifth in the standings, yet first-place Minnesota Lynx, led by rookie Olivia Miles, is given a 15.5% chance to win the title.

With all these aspects, ESPN believes that Clark and the 17-10 Fever will be making huge strides in the second half of the season, the same way they did last season.

And the Fever definitely has what it takes to make the report from ESPN come to reality, thanks to their elite offense.

The Fever lead the league with a 116.1 offensive rating, powered by the imposing duo of Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.

Clark is probably having her best season in the WNBA till now. Before the All-Star weekend, she averaged 21.0 points and 7.9 assists per game.

She ranks among the league leaders in both categories and remains the engine of Indiana’s high-powered attack.

Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell is making a strong case for MVP honors, posting an even more productive 23.3 points per game average.

The elite scorer provided another reminder of her offensive ability by scoring a game-high 28 points during Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago.

However, the same cannot be said for the Fever's defence, as their offense has been carrying the load throughout this season.

The Fever Must Overcome Defensive Shortcomings

The Fever are viewed as the favorites by ESPN's Basketball Power Index because of many factors, including their current form. But while they have won seven of their last ten games, it has mainly been thanks to their elite attackers.

The Fever is averaging 95.5 points per game to this point in the season. That would be the highest points per game in league history, beating the 93.9 points per game that the 2010 Phoenix Mercury produced.

However, the same cannot be said for their defense, as they've given up 89.6 points per game this year, the fifth-worst in the league.

The Fever would naturally be in trouble if one of Clark, Mitchell, or even Aliyah Boston has an off day. There are already examples present, as the Fever have conceded 100 or more points on nine occasions this season.

One more 100-point game against them will set a new WNBA record for the number of times that has happened to a team.

The road only gets tougher, but if the Fever's offense can somehow overshadow their one major flaw, the road to the WNBA Finals will get only a bit easier.

So, do you think the Indiana Fever are favorites to win the WNBA championship this season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy