The Indiana Fever are learning what life without Caitlin Clark looks like — and how quickly the margin for error shrinks without their lead guard.
In Friday night’s 85–83 loss to the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Fever not only dropped their second straight game without the WNBA’s reigning Rookie of the Year, but also lost two more guards to injury, further testing the depth and chemistry of one of the league’s youngest teams.
Clark is out for at least two weeks with a left quad strain and will be reevaluated June 9. Without her on the floor, the Fever have struggled to find consistency in scoring, spacing, and leadership.
Caitlin Clark’s Absence Reveals On-Court Gaps
Indiana is 2-4 overall and now 0–2 without Clark, who led the team in both scoring and assists before being sidelined. While the offense has shown flashes, it has lacked a steady facilitator — an issue made worse Friday as both Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham were forced to leave the game with injuries.
Colson, Clark’s veteran backup, suffered a left leg injury in the first quarter and was helped to the locker room. Cunningham, who had stepped into primary ball-handling duties, exited in the fourth quarter after aggravating a right ankle injury — the same one that kept her out of the season’s first two games.
“It was kind of like a gut punch,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “It affected us in the second quarter, no doubt, not having another primary ball handler, and we [have to] take Sophie out of what she does naturally really well when she has to become a ball handler.”
“But the reality is, this stuff happens. We’ve seen it time and time again in our league. We can’t take 2½ quarters to figure it out. But I was proud of our fight in the fourth quarter after Sophie went down.”
Indiana finished the night with only eight available players from an 11-player roster. If Colson and Cunningham remain out, the Fever will be eligible to sign players to 7-day hardship contracts — a temporary fix that underscores the team’s current challenge: operating without a natural point guard.
A Late Surge Falls Just Short
Despite the adversity, Indiana nearly pulled off a comeback. Trailing by 15 midway through the fourth quarter, the Fever responded with a 17–0 run, sparked by DeWanna Bonner’s three 3-pointers. The game came down to the final possession, with Kelsey Mitchell’s off-balance jumper narrowly missing at the buzzer.
“We weren’t specifically seeking a three [on the final possession], just a quick score,” White said. “The 3-pointer occurred because the inbound pass wasn’t executed cleanly.”
Aliyah Boston led the Fever with 17 points, eight assists (tying her career high), and five rebounds. Her first-quarter scoring burst helped Indiana build early momentum, and her all-around production made franchise history — becoming the fastest Fever player since 2002 to reach 100 points and 50 rebounds in a single season.
Cunningham had 10 points before leaving the game. Mitchell added 11, and Damiris Dantas chipped in a season-high nine off the bench. The Fever have now lost four games this season — by margins of 1, 2, 6, and 2 points.
Finding Identity Through Adversity
Coach White was candid about the growing pains the team is facing, but she emphasized the opportunity within the hardship.
“There’s no question…we’re getting adversity right now,” White said. “It’s early enough in the season we get to find a chance to get a gut check moment, and to find out who we’re going to be throughout adversity.”
“We can’t control the injuries…who’s on or off the floor…we also have to control the things we can control on the floor and grow in those areas.”
Bonner, a veteran, echoed that message.
“It’s hard when you keep losing people and you’ve got to keep trying to piece it together,” Bonner said. “We came in with one game plan, and then you lose your other point guard and you’ve got to pivot on the fly. And we’re a new team at that; we’ve got all these new pieces. We just have to stay together and stay positive. Get through the storm.”
Upcoming Schedule
The Fever’s next opportunity will come Tuesday night at home against the Washington Mystics. After that, they don’t play again until Saturday versus the Chicago Sky. With just four games over the next two weeks, the schedule offers a chance for rest — and potentially the return of Clark, depending on her reevaluation.
“It’s really hard not to be outcome-driven,” White said. “We have to be process-driven.”
For now, the process is grueling. But in a season still young, the Fever are hoping the adversity they’re weathering will become the foundation for future success — and that Clark’s return, whenever it comes, will find a team that’s learned how to fight.
