The Indiana Fever’s push toward the postseason just got a whole lot trickier. Already without All-Star guard Caitlin Clark, the team learned this week that both Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson will miss the rest of the 2025 season.
On Sunday, the Fever moved quickly to plug the gap, signing veteran guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract. Sims, 33, brings a résumé that includes a 2019 WNBA All-Star nod and All-WNBA Second Team honors with the Minnesota Lynx.
That season, she averaged 14.5 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. This year, she started with the Los Angeles Sparks, posting 9.8 points per game before being waived after 12 appearances.
For Indiana, the hope is that Sims can bring both leadership and scoring punch while Clark continues to rehab her groin injury. Her ability to create off the dribble and steady the offense could be what the Fever need to hold their ground in the standings.
With an 18-14 record, Indiana currently sits fifth in the league, just 1.5 games back of the Phoenix Mercury for the No. 4 seed. With 12 games left ahead of the playoffs, Indiana needs to maintain their best form.
Stephanie White reacts to losing Colson and McDonald
McDonald had been the steady hand in Clark’s absence, but a broken bone in her foot sidelined her indefinitely. Colson’s torn ACL added another gut punch to a backcourt already stretched thin.
“We’ll have to do it by committee, certainly,” White told reporters ahead of the game vs Chicago (which they won 92-70). “We’ve been using Aliyah Boston to initiate offense throughout the course of the season. Sophie Cunningham at times, particularly early, ran some of the points for us as well. Kelsey Mitchell can initiate offense, too.”
White made it clear that the Fever will have to adjust their style to survive this stretch. “I think the most important thing is that we aren’t going to be able to do every play in our arsenal,” she said. “We’ll have to play a big lineup. We’ll have to simplify.”
The Fever’s next test comes Tuesday night at home against the Dallas Wings. It’s a pivotal matchup in a tightly packed playoff race. As well as the start of a stretch where the Fever will need to get creative if they want to keep Indiana’s postseason hopes alive.
