# Fever Needs Defensive Upgrade

> WNBA's Indiana Fever seeks defensive help after playoff exit.
- Title: Fever Needs Defensive Upgrade · EssentiallySports | Shortify
- Summary: WNBA's Indiana Fever seeks defensive help after playoff exit. Indiana Fever needs a defensive upgrade to compete after playoff loss.
- Keywords: indiana fever, caitlin clark, kelsey mitchell, wnba, defensive rating, valkyries, sports, Fever, Needs, Defensive, Upgrade, EssentiallySports
- Source: EssentiallySports — https://essentiallysports.com/wnba-basketball-news-pull-one-of-the-valkyries-wnba-columnist-offers-offseason-blueprint-for-fever-to-build-around-caitlin-clark
- Author: Olutayo Inioluwa Emmanuel
- Published: 2026-10-09T17:51:56+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: indiana fever, caitlin clark, kelsey mitchell, wnba, defensive rating, valkyries, sports
## Fever's Playoffs End
The Indiana Fever lost in the first round after their defense failed.

> Can you get a defender out of this crew?
## Buckner's Defense Plan
WNBA columnist Candace Buckner suggests pulling a Valkyries defender for better defense.

> Can you pull one of the valkyries, just one of them, kayla thornton?
## Fever's Defensive Weakness
Fever ranked eighth in league defense with 109 defensive rating.
## Valkyries' Strong Defense
Golden State Valkyries had best defense with 99.3 rating and 75.1 points per game.
## Fever's Next Move
Fever needs defensive upgrades to compete in next season.
## Key takeaway

Indiana Fever needs a defensive upgrade to compete after playoff loss.