Indiana Fever

ABOUT THIS ENTRY

Throughout the course of the Indiana Fever's 2024 season, which spans half of a calendar year (April 1-Septemeber 30, 2024), [@indianafever](https://www.instagram.com/indianafever/) saw its audience grow by more than half a million followers (511,858) and achieved nearly 40 million engagements (39,842,709) on Instagram alone. This growth was larger then any of our other main social media platforms (X, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube). The success was driven by a dynamic content strategy that included pre-planned posts, engaging player-driven content and our ability to capitalize on the emergence of Caitlin Clark's rise and the team's new chapter and success.

How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?

The Indiana Fever’s Instagram strategy in 2024 exemplified Excellence in Engagement by prioritizing authentic, visually captivating content that resonated with a broad and growing audience. From Caitlin Clark’s draft to her arrival in Indiana, our content was designed to immediately capture attention and foster a deeper connection with both existing and new fans.

Our strategic use of Instagram features like Reels and carousel posts, combined with raw, behind-the-scenes moments and dynamic graphics, created engaging content that encouraged fans to interact, share, and comment. By crafting posts that highlighted Caitlin's impact on the league, the team’s growth, and the Fever's broader influence, we tapped into both the passion of our established fanbase and the excitement surrounding Caitlin's rise.

As the season progressed, we adapted our content to reflect the team's evolving story, focusing on chemistry, culture, and player personalities. This approach not only kept fans engaged but deepened their connection to the Fever, ensuring sustained interaction throughout the season.

Through consistent storytelling, interactive posts, and timely, shareable content, we kept fans excited, educated, and emotionally connected—ultimately driving increased engagement, fostering a sense of community, and elevating the Fever’s presence on Instagram.

Objective

With the excitement generated by Caitlin Clark’s selection as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, our primary objective was to build a dynamic Instagram presence that not only captured attention but also engaged and educated our expanding fanbase.

We anticipated a significant surge in engagement and aimed to leverage Instagram’s strengths, particularly Reels and carousel posts, to reach a broader audience. Recognizing that our fanbase is predominantly female (ages 18-65), we strategically focused on creating shareable, impactful content that would resonate with both new and existing fans.

Our goal was to showcase the team’s growth, Caitlin Clark’s influence, and behind-the-scenes moments while fostering a deeper connection with fans unfamiliar with the Fever. Additionally, we sought to elevate storytelling by positioning Caitlin Clark not only as a standout player but also as a catalyst for change in women’s sports, creating narratives that drove engagement and visibility.

Strategy & Execution

From Caitlin Clark’s draft to her arrival in Indiana, we quickly set our strategy in motion. Between April 14-17, we released 120+ pieces of content, including a cutting-edge 3D animation (view it [here](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5zQztOrkny/)) introducing our No. 1 pick. This rapid rollout captured attention and set the tone for the season.

As the season progressed, we focused on educating our growing fanbase (120K new followers from April 14-17 alone) with visually engaging content. This included personality-driven posts that related to the everyday fan, like questions of the day, get-to-know graphics and players competing in unique, trendy games. Subtle details, like name/number placements on nearly all graphics, reinforced our team identity. We also highlighted Caitlin’s record-breaking achievements with elevated static and motion graphics.

At the season’s midway point, our vision evolved to truly show the new era of Fever basketball, honing in on Caitlin and our team's success through the team's on-court stats and record-breaking performances.

Lastly, we highlighted Caitlin’s impact on the league and women’s sports by sharing moments of sold-out crowds and fan interactions, humanizing Caitlin and strengthening her connection with her audience.

Organizations

• Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Links

•   Instagram

Credits

Tyler Beadlescomb
SVP Digital & Marketing
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Zach Hughes
Sr. Director, Social Content
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Missy Zielinski
Associate Director, Social Content
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Karlee Williamson
Social Media Manager, Indiana Fever
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Alex Kim
Sr. Coordinator, Social Media
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Logan Kassel
Social Media Manager
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Emily Keck
Social Media Specialist
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Emil Vajgrt
Social Media Producer
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Ben Rea
Motion Graphics Designer
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Danjae Rosete
Associate Director, Video Content
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Daniel Stallings
Associate Director, Video Content
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Andrew Kim
Digital Video Producer
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Marco Martinez
Digital Video Producer
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Shayna Sangster
Associate Vice President, Fever Marketing
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Wheat Hotchkiss
Sr. Director, Digital Marketing
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Robyn Fuhrman
Director, Digital Partnerships
Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Chayse Earney
Digital Partnerships Coordinator
Pacers Sports & Entertainment