The Indiana Fever have spent the 2025 WNBA season living on the edge, and as the regular season draws to a close, their playoff hopes hang in the balance. With star guard Caitlin Clark sidelined since mid-July and a rash of injuries decimating their backcourt, the Fever’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Yet, despite a lineup in constant flux and a daunting schedule ahead, Indiana remains firmly in the playoff hunt, refusing to fold under pressure.
Coach Stephanie White, who returned to her home state with championship ambitions, has faced challenges she never imagined. "You've got two options, right? You can fight or you can fold, and we aren't folding," White declared, encapsulating the team’s gritty mindset. As of August 21, 2025, Indiana clings to the sixth seed in the WNBA standings, two games clear of ninth-place Los Angeles, with nine regular season games left to play.
The adversity began in earnest on July 15, when two-time All-Star Caitlin Clark suffered a right groin injury, followed by a bone bruise during her recovery. The Fever have not set a timetable for her return, and local reporter Scott Agness recently suggested she’ll be out "at least several more weeks." Clark has missed 22 of the team’s 35 games this season, a staggering figure for a player so central to Indiana’s identity and offensive flow. She previously missed time with a left quad injury in May and sat out the WNBA Commissioner's Cup title game in July due to her groin. Still, the Fever pulled off a 74-59 win over Minnesota in her absence, a testament to their resilience even before the injury crisis deepened.
But the hits kept coming. On August 7, backup guards Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson both suffered season-ending injuries in a game at Phoenix. Then, on August 16, the Fever lost one of their top three-point threats, Sophie Cunningham, to a season-ending knee injury in a dramatic contest against the Connecticut Sun. The timing couldn’t have been worse—Indiana was already thin in the backcourt, and now their depth was stretched to the breaking point.
Yet, in the face of adversity, the Fever have responded with remarkable resolve. After dropping the first two games following Clark’s latest absence, Indiana rattled off five straight wins. They’ve gone 2-2 since losing McDonald and Colson, with those two losses coming by a combined five points. The emotional toll has been visible; White was moved to tears in her postgame news conference after the Connecticut win. "I told the team at halftime (Sunday), we've been dealt a crappy hand, and we've got to play it," she said. "They have been so connected, they have stayed together, and they have found a way and because of that, it's put us in position to win ballgames and we're going to continue to battle."
The Fever’s 99-93 overtime victory against the Sun was historic, marking the largest comeback in franchise history. Down 21 points in the third quarter, Indiana rallied behind All-Star forward Natasha Howard, who finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, including the team’s first 10 points in overtime. Howard’s leadership extended beyond the court; after the win, she posted on X, "I love my team!!!"—a simple but powerful affirmation of the Fever’s unity.
All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell has been the engine driving Indiana’s offense during this turbulent stretch. She’s averaging a career-best 20.4 points per game this season and has nearly doubled her assists output from last year, dishing out 3.4 per contest. On August 16, she erupted for 38 points against Connecticut, tying her career high, while hitting five three-pointers and converting 11 of 12 free throws. Mitchell’s consistency and willingness to shoulder the scoring load have been crucial. "I think when people have bad days and bad things happen, I think you have to lean on internal relationships with one another to make it not feel so horrible," Mitchell explained, highlighting the importance of team culture in tough times.
Indiana’s frontcourt has also stepped up. Center Aliyah Boston, another All-Star, has improved her passing and teamed up with forward Natasha Howard to provide a stronger inside presence. Boston’s growth as a facilitator has helped offset the loss of perimeter creators, while Howard’s versatility has been on display on both ends of the floor. The Fever’s ability to adapt their playing style—leaning more on defense, rebounding, and collective effort—has been a key factor in their survival.
Meanwhile, Aari McDonald’s brief but impactful stint with the Fever deserves mention. Signed to a one-year, $72,414 contract under the WNBA’s emergency hardship exception, McDonald brought speed, vision, and leadership to a depleted roster. She averaged 11 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game before suffering a season-ending injury. Her journey through the league, including previous stops with the Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, and Beijing Great Wall, speaks to the unpredictable rhythm of professional basketball. Despite being waived in June after Clark and Cunningham briefly returned, McDonald’s contributions during a critical stretch underscored her value and professionalism.
Looking ahead, the Fever’s schedule is anything but forgiving. They face the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (28-5) three times and have tough road games against the Phoenix Mercury and the surprisingly competitive Golden State Valkyries. With a 19-16 record and the playoff race tightening, every game feels like a must-win. The Fever’s margin for error is slim, and with Clark’s return uncertain, the pressure only mounts.
Despite the daunting odds, the team’s belief hasn’t wavered. Guard Shey Peddy, Indiana’s newest addition, captured the spirit in the locker room: "You can tell everybody's together here. They still want to fight. They still know we have a chance to make the playoffs. Nobody has given up." That sentiment has been echoed by White, who continues to juggle lineups, manage roster moves, and reteach the playbook to a group that refuses to quit.
As the season winds down, the Indiana Fever stand as a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity. The story isn’t just about injuries or missed opportunities—it’s about a team’s refusal to let setbacks define them. Whether or not Clark returns in time to make an impact, and regardless of how the playoff picture ultimately shakes out, the Fever have already shown the league what true resilience looks like.
