Indiana Fever's future is bright with strong core, but roster needs more help.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Fever 's Big 3 of Caitlin Clark , Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston led the franchise to its first postseason berth since 2016.

Clark exceeded expectations despite an intense spotlight and scrutiny unlike anything the WNBA has seen before. Fellow former No. 1 overall pick Boston has developed into a steady post presence, and Mitchell is getting a chance to showcase her talents alongside other star-level players, though her return is far from a sure thing with her looming free agency .

The core of the Fever seems set, but the auxiliary pieces are far from set in stone. One of the presumed core players, former No. 2 overall pick NaLyssa Smith was benched in favor of veteran Temi Fagbenle ahead of Wednesday's crucial Game 2 against the Connecticut Sun. Smith struggled off the bench, going scoreless with three rebounds in the 87-81 loss , posting a team-worst -12 +/- rating in just four minutes of playing time.

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Fagbenle provided the Fever with a spark in the second half, sinking a fourth-quarter 3-pointer, cutting Indiana's deficit to two with 4:54 left in the game. Fagbenle finished with nine points and nine rebounds. Her mobility and length make her a great fit for the Fever's up-tempo offense, and her play earned her the trust of the Indiana coaching staff.

"Temi did an excellent job," Fever coach Christie Sides said. "The thing that she brings for us is her speed. She's able to get out and run in transition, which means that if you are guarding Temi and you think you're going to try to get an offensive rebound, you're really thinking, 'I better get my ass back,' because Temi's about to run, and we've got guards that are going to hit her in stride.

"When you get to the playoffs and you're in an elimination game, you got to find something to try differently. And I thought she did a great job for us. Defensively, her length and her speed, her movement, her veteran presence out there, just did a great job for us."

Moving Fagbenle into the starting lineup was needed for the Fever, but it's unclear if the 32-year-old will be a key part of the team's long-term future. Injuries prevented her from establishing a steady spot in the starting lineup. She suffered three injuries this season, including ones to her thumb and shoulder, limiting her availability to just 22 regular-season games.

Guard Lexie Hull also worked her way into the starting lineup after beginning the season as a reverse. She shot 65% from 3 after the Olympic break, giving the Fever another reliable threat from the outside. She finished the regular season with a career-high 47.1% mark from 3, a marked improvement from the 20% clip of her first two seasons. But the third-year guard struggled during the playoffs, going just 1-for-7 from 3. Reserves Erica Wheeler and Damiris Dantas are steady veterans but are not long-term pieces.

The Fever have to find one more piece either off the bench or in the starting lineup if they want to advance in the postseason and lighten the load of their Big 3. The veteran Sun could provide the Fever the blueprint on how to build a deep playoff roster. DiJonai Carrington was the 20th pick of the 2021 WNBA draft. The former Baylor star started just three games in three years before becoming a fixture in the Sun starting five and winning the 2024 Most Improved Player award. Marina Mabrey moved from the bench into the starting lineup for Game 2 with starting guard Ty Harris out with an ankle injury. Mabrey scored 17 points and the Sun got great contributions off the bench from Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Veronica Burton, finishing with a +17 and +10 plus/minus, respectively.

"We knew she was going to be a difference-maker for us," Sun forward Aylssa Thomas said of Mabrey. "She's a different guard for us that can create and is not scared of the moment. Unfortunately, Ty goes down with the ankle injury, but to have somebody like her off the bench that comes in, and she's a bucket.

"She's just come in and been a great teammate and has done whatever has needed to be done, whether it's come off the bench or be in the starting role. We're definitely happy to have her on our side."

The Fever have to find a player like Mabrey, someone who can come off the bench or start when needed and provide consistent production. Katie Lou Samuelson was expected to be a consistent scorer for the Fever. She started 15 games before getting injured and replaced in the lineup by Hull. She's a career 33% shooter and at 27, may still be young enough to take her game to another level. Former IU star Grace Berger played sparingly after getting selected No. 7 overall in the 2023 draft. Her minutes have gone down after a solid rookie season, but roster shakeups could allow her to fight for more playing time next season.

"We definitely have the pieces to have some great years ahead of us. ... We're always looking for that next whatever we need to do to have these guys ready," Sides said. "We want to make sure they're prepared for everything."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever's future is bright with strong core, but roster needs more help.