The Indiana Fever’s long-awaited return to the WNBA Playoffs on Sunday, September 14, 2025, should have been a triumphant homecoming. Instead, the team finds itself battered and short-handed, facing the Atlanta Dream in a first-round matchup at 3 p.m. ET with a roster that barely resembles the one that tipped off the season. The Fever’s path to the postseason has been anything but smooth, and the latest string of injuries threatens to derail their hopes just as momentum seemed to be building.
Perhaps the biggest headline-grabber is the absence of Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year and the engine behind much of Indiana’s offense. Clark has been sidelined since July 15 with a right groin injury, a blow that left fans and analysts alike questioning whether the Fever could even make it this far. But the injury report doesn’t stop there. Sophie Cunningham, a dynamic scorer and emotional spark plug, is also out for the season after suffering a right knee injury. Cunningham’s absence is especially painful—her first year in Indiana was a resounding success, and just days ago, she was inducted into the Missouri Hall of Fame, celebrated as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
"That’s what I’m saying. Steph, are you listening? No, I’m kidding," Cunningham joked when asked by ESPN announcer Jay Alter about her offensive role with the Fever. Her playful, yet pointed, message to head coach Stephanie White underscored a growing sentiment among fans: Indiana needs every ounce of scoring it can muster. Cunningham’s presence, both on and off the court, will be sorely missed as the playoffs begin.
As if losing Clark and Cunningham weren’t enough, the Fever’s injury list reads like a who’s who of the roster. Sydney Colson (left knee), Aari McDonald (right foot), and Chloe Bibby (left knee) are all out for the season. The latest blow came less than 24 hours before Game 1, when veteran center Damiris Dantas was ruled out after entering concussion protocol. Dantas suffered the injury during practice on September 11, and her absence leaves Indiana’s already-thin frontcourt stretched to its limits.
Dantas may not have been a household name, but her contributions were quietly crucial. Averaging 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, Dantas provided stability and experience, particularly in the Fever’s recent push to the postseason. In the regular-season finale against Minnesota, she tallied 10 points and six rebounds off the bench, flashing the kind of form that had fans hoping for a playoff boost. She’d also found her shooting stroke late in the year, connecting on multiple three-pointers in back-to-back games.
Head coach Stephanie White now faces the unenviable task of reworking her rotation on the fly. "Their size, at most all positions, has been a challenge for us. So we’re gonna have to combat that with our discipline, number one, and with our reads on the offensive end of the floor," White told reporters on September 12, referencing the Dream’s imposing frontcourt led by Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones. The plan? Lean heavily on core starters like Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, Lexie Hull, Odyssey Sims, and Kelsey Mitchell, while asking bench players Aerial Powers, Shey Peddy, and Brianna Turner to step up in extended roles. Boston, a three-time WNBA All-Star, may be asked to play all 40 minutes to anchor both ends of the floor.
For Indiana, the timing of these setbacks couldn’t be worse. After clawing their way into the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, the Fever now face a Dream squad that boasts size, physicality, and interior scoring threats. The matchup is daunting. Brionna Jones, Naz Hillman, and Brittney Griner form a frontcourt trio that can wear down even the healthiest of opponents. With Dantas and Bibby out, Indiana’s depth is paper-thin, forcing White to keep rotations tight and rely on her starters like never before.
The absence of Sophie Cunningham looms large, not just for her scoring, but for her attitude and leadership. Cunningham’s fiery on-court persona was on full display earlier in the season, most notably during a heated altercation against the Connecticut Sun on June 17, which led to her ejection. "It’s fun. I’m a little feisty, I’m a little sassy. Sometimes it gets me in trouble. I’m sure you guys have maybe seen the clip that’s kind of gone viral a little bit. It’s fine. My roots coming out. I’m just proud to be a Mizzou alum, and I’m proud to be home," Cunningham remarked during her Hall of Fame weekend. Her competitiveness and scoring prowess—honed during her four years at Missouri—would have been invaluable in the postseason cauldron.
Before the injury bug bit, Indiana was considered a legitimate title contender. On June 18, the Fever had the third-shortest odds to win the WNBA championship at +300, according to BetMGM. Fast forward to the eve of the playoffs, and those odds have plummeted to +17,500—a stark indicator of just how much the team’s fortunes have shifted. The loss of both Clark and Cunningham has forced the Fever to reinvent themselves on the fly, with White emphasizing the need to balance the scoring load and find new ways to generate offense against elite competition.
The conversation around the Fever’s offense has evolved, too. With Clark out, there’s been growing debate about how to replace her scoring and playmaking. Cunningham’s semi-joking message to White—"Do I need to call Stephie White up? We got to get you the ball more"—has sparked discussion among analysts and fans alike. Some see it as a call for more interior toughness and post play, while others view it as a reasonable request from a proven veteran. White herself has acknowledged the need for balance, especially as defenses key in on Indiana’s remaining threats.
As the Fever prepare to take the floor against Atlanta, there’s a sense of defiance in the locker room. This team has weathered adversity all season, and while the odds may be stacked against them, the players and coaching staff are determined to make their mark. The action is ongoing, and with their season on the line, Indiana’s resilience will be put to the ultimate test.
One thing’s for sure: no matter how the series unfolds, the Fever have already shown the heart of a contender. The journey back to the playoffs has been filled with twists, setbacks, and unlikely heroes. Now, it’s time to see if they have one more surprise left in them.
