The Indiana Fever are facing a significant crisis as they navigate a season riddled with injuries, particularly in their backcourt. The absence of star rookie Caitlin Clark, coupled with season-ending injuries to key players Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald, has created a challenging situation for the team. This confluence of unfortunate events may necessitate adjustments from the Fever's highest-paid teammate, according to WNBA analysts.
Caitlin Clark, who had a historic Rookie of the Year season, has been sidelined for a significant portion of the current season due to a series of injuries. Initially, a left quad strain kept her out for three weeks, followed by a left groin injury that sidelined her for two weeks. Most recently, a right groin injury has kept her out of the lineup for ten consecutive games as of August 9, 2025. There is currently no firm timeline for her return, with the team prioritizing her long-term health and well-being.
Adding to the Fever's woes, Sydney Colson suffered a torn ACL during a game against the Phoenix Mercury, and Aari McDonald broke a bone in her foot in the same game. These injuries have left the Fever without a healthy point guard, forcing them to take immediate action to bolster their roster. In response, the Fever signed veteran guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract. Sims, a former No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA draft, brings valuable experience and leadership to the team.
Odyssey Sims, 33, has played for several WNBA teams over her 11-year career, including the Tulsa Shock, Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, and Connecticut Sun. She was named a WNBA All-Star and All-WNBA Second Team selection in 2019 while playing for the Lynx. This season, she averaged 9.8 points and 3.5 assists in 12 games with the Sparks before being waived. The Fever hope that Sims can provide a scoring punch and steady the offense while Clark is recovering.
With Clark, Colson, and McDonald all out, the Fever's remaining players will need to step up and take on larger roles. According to coach Stephanie White, the team will need to rely on a committee approach to replace the production of the injured players. Aliyah Boston, Sophie Cunningham, and Kelsey Mitchell are among the players who may be asked to initiate the offense and contribute in different ways.
The Fever's current record stands at 18-14, placing them fifth in the league standings, just 1.5 games behind the Phoenix Mercury for the No. 4 seed. Despite the setbacks, Coach White has emphasized the team's resilience and determination to stay the course. The team's focus remains on playing for each other and honoring their injured teammates.
The "triple crisis" facing the Indiana Fever—Caitlin Clark's prolonged absence and season-ending injuries to Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald—presents a significant challenge for the team. It remains to be seen how the Fever's highest-paid teammate will adjust to these circumstances, but it is clear that the team will need to rely on its depth and leadership to navigate this difficult stretch. The addition of Odyssey Sims provides a temporary solution at point guard, but the Fever will need contributions from their entire roster to remain competitive in Clark's absence.
