The Indiana Fever’s 2025 WNBA campaign has taken yet another dramatic turn as the injury bug continues to ravage their backcourt, leaving the team shorthanded and facing major questions ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Sky. What was shaping up to be a promising season has quickly become a test of depth, resolve, and adaptability for head coach Stephanie White and her resilient squad.
Thursday night’s 95-60 blowout loss at the hands of the Phoenix Mercury proved costly in more ways than one. Not only did the Fever fall to a tough Western Conference opponent, but they also lost two crucial guards—Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald—to season-ending injuries. Colson tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee during the first quarter, while McDonald broke a bone in her right foot in the fourth. The news was confirmed by the team on Friday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the Fever locker room and the WNBA community at large.
For a team already without the services of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, who has been sidelined since July 15 with a right groin injury, the timing could hardly be worse. Clark’s absence has been felt for nine straight regular-season games, and she has missed 18 contests in total this year due to various injuries. There’s still no clear timetable for her return, with Coach White declining to provide specifics. The organization, for its part, remains adamant about prioritizing Clark’s long-term health, even as the pressure mounts to get her back on the court.
The impact of these injuries on Indiana’s backcourt depth cannot be overstated. With Colson and McDonald out, only Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham, and Lexie Hull remain as healthy guards. According to the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Fever must play Saturday’s game with just nine available players before they can apply for hardship waivers to sign replacements. This rule requires injured players to miss at least one game before a team can add a hardship replacement, meaning Indiana will have to gut it out against Chicago before any reinforcements can arrive.
Colson, a veteran presence acquired in February after three seasons with Las Vegas, had appeared in 30 of Indiana’s 31 games this year. She averaged 2.4 points and 2.0 assists per game, providing steady leadership and much-needed backcourt stability. McDonald, meanwhile, was a midseason revelation. Signed originally on a hardship exemption, she quickly earned her place in the rotation, averaging 9.8 points, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 42.9% from the field in 26.3 minutes per contest. Her defensive energy and ability to step up during Clark’s absence were vital to the Fever’s recent five-game winning streak, which had propelled them to fifth place in the WNBA standings.
“The Indiana Fever announced today that guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald will both miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season after suffering injuries during the team’s game at the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night,” the team stated in a Friday press release. The blow is all the more painful given the Fever’s recent momentum and the chemistry McDonald and Colson helped foster within a close-knit locker room.
The news hit the team hard, and Clark herself expressed support for her fallen teammates on social media, posting a photo of Colson and McDonald with the simple but heartfelt message: “love you guys.” It’s a sentiment echoed throughout the organization, as both players are widely respected for their professionalism and positive influence.
The Fever’s injury woes this season have been relentless. Clark, the face of the franchise and a transformative force on the court, has missed 18 of 31 games. McDonald and Colson now join her on the sidelines for the remainder of the campaign, while Sophie Cunningham recently gave the team a scare when she briefly exited Thursday’s game with a left ankle injury. Fortunately, Cunningham returned to lead the Fever in scoring with 18 points, including five made three-pointers—a bright spot in an otherwise difficult night.
Despite the adversity, Indiana remains firmly in the playoff hunt. With a 17-14 record and five weeks left in the regular season, the Fever currently occupy fifth place. The top eight teams advance to the postseason, and while the margin for error has narrowed, the Fever’s core—anchored by All-Stars Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell—remains formidable. If Clark can return in time for the playoffs, Indiana could still be a dangerous opponent, especially given their recent stretch of strong play before the injury setbacks.
The immediate challenge, however, is fielding a competitive lineup against the Sky. With all three natural point guards out, Coach White faces a tough task in managing playing time and ball-handling duties. It’s likely that Mitchell and Cunningham will shoulder more responsibility in the backcourt, with Hull potentially stepping into a starting role alongside Boston and Natasha Howard. The Fever have not yet announced any moves to fill the two open roster spots, but several potential hardship candidates have been floated, including Jaylyn Sherrod, Grace Berger, Odyssey Sims, and Shey Peddy. The earliest a new player could join the team would be for Tuesday’s game against Dallas.
The Fever’s upcoming schedule does offer a glimmer of hope. After Saturday’s showdown with the similarly depleted Sky, Indiana hosts Dallas and Washington—both teams currently in the lower quarter of the league standings—before traveling to face Connecticut. This stretch could provide some much-needed relief and an opportunity for the remaining players to gel in new roles.
Still, the loss of McDonald and Colson leaves a significant void. McDonald, in particular, had become a key part of the team’s identity, bringing defensive tenacity and a knack for creating offense in transition. Colson’s veteran leadership and playoff experience were invaluable, especially for a young roster navigating the ups and downs of a roller-coaster season that has also included the midseason departure of DeWanna Bonner.
For now, the Fever must rally around their remaining core, lean on the experience of Boston and Mitchell, and hope that reinforcements can arrive soon. The road ahead is daunting, but if there’s any silver lining, it’s that Indiana has shown resilience all year long. The question now is whether they can weather this latest storm and keep their playoff hopes alive.
As the Fever prepare to take the court against Chicago with just nine healthy players, all eyes will be on how they respond to adversity. The WNBA season waits for no one, and Indiana’s next chapter begins now—with grit, determination, and the unwavering support of a fan base that knows the meaning of perseverance.
