It eventually might be called the house that Caitlin built.
After a run to the postseason behind Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year, the Indiana Fever will be on the receiving end of a $78 million “sports performance center” to be built in downtown Indianapolis.
“With the goal of Indianapolis becoming the epicenter of women’s sports, this world-class sports performance center will be the preeminent place for players to train, recover and push their boundaries,” said Mel Raines, the CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
“It’s a game changer in terms of providing the ultimate player experience and we can’t wait for our team to reap the benefits of having an exclusive and unparalleled facility designed specifically for them.”
As designed, the three-story building will consist of 108,000 square feet. Groundbreaking is planned for August, with expectations the complex will open before the 2027 WNBA season.
The Fever currently use a training area and practice court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers.
The WNBA team’s customized facility will have two regulation-size practice courts, a strength and conditioning center, an area for yoga and pilates, and a full-service kitchen. It will include what the organization termed a “spa-like retreat” with hydrotherapy pools, massages, heat studios, infrared light therapy and more. Finally, it also will have a place for child care, a hair and nail salon, and room for content production and podcasting.
“Last year, we experienced an unprecedented boom in interest and attention on women’s sports around the world, led in large part by our very own Indiana Fever,” said Joe Hogsett, the Indianapolis mayor. “Indianapolis is proud to see this significant investment from Pacers Sports & Entertainment drive further momentum in women’s basketball in our community and continue to elevate our status as a major league sports city.”
The Fever will continue to play home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as they become one of a growing number of WNBA teams to plan their own training facilities.
The team finished 20-20 last season and made their first playoff appearance since 2016, losing in the first round to the Connecticut Sun.
Still, things are looking up. Clark was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft and averaged a team-leading 19.2 points and 8.4 assists per game. Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 section in the 2023 draft, led the Fever with 8.9 rebounds.
They will be led in 2025 by Stephanie White, the former Sun head coach who is making her second go-round as head coach.
–Field Level Media
