It was only days ago that Stephanie White was brimming with pride as the Indiana Fever team secured their fifth straight win vs the Seattle Storm (78-74). “A group that’s been resilient all season long,” the head coach had said. But come game 2 of the Fever vs Mercury series this regular season, that comment was going to be put to the test yet again. The massive 95-60 road loss vs the Phoenix Mercuy not only exposed the Fever’s lapses but also took away players who held the team together. So, expectedly, fans are calling for some moves, and a few are even jumping on the bandwagon to pair Caitlin Clark with an NCAA champion/tough rival.

It all started on Thursday night. Just as exciting as the Fever’s Game 1 versus Alyssa Thomas & Co. was, the latest one was equally nightmarish. Where a 107-101 win last month handed them a season-high total, PHX Arena handed them a double blow, and both in the form of point guards. 

Sydney Colson was the first to go late in the first quarter in Game 2 vs the Mercury. The 10-year veteran was tracking the ball near Fever’s bench when she leaped to retrieve an offensive rebound near the left wing and landed awkwardly on her left leg. She immediately grimaced in pain, and it looked bad from the outset. Colson was ultimately helped off the court, only for another drastic announcement later revealing that she was out for the season. As per the update, the 36-year-old tore the ACL in her left knee. Unfortunately, that’s not all. Fever’s emergency signing turned primary point guard Aari McDonald carried the curse when she limped out in the fourth quarter. It was later revealed that the guard, who was leading the team with a crucial career-high 27-point performance in their last clash, was left with a broken bone in her right foot. 

While fans were left lamenting the two important losses, soon they began wondering the most important question of the hour. As Women’s Hoops Network rightly asked on X on August 8, “Indiana Fever needs a point guard badly. Who should they sign?”

Injuries at any point of the season are bad, but they are awful for the Indiana Fever right now. The team was just finding its momentum with a 5-1 record before the Phoenix game and setting up a deep playoff run, but these injuries have sent them almost back to square one. On top of that, their replacement will have to be limited to just the free agents, as the trade deadline has already passed. However, as the saying goes, ‘the show must go on’. So, who do fans want? Let’s find out. 

Fans Split Between Ex-Sparks Star and Caitlin Clark’s Rival to Fill the Void

Many Indiana fans have already given up on this season. CC is not looking good and nowhere close to returning to the court. Like she said, “It’s, ‘How do you feel?’ And even when I have been back, I don’t know how I’m going to feel the next day when I’ve been playing when you’re dealing with these types of injuries.” There are no basketball activities yet for Clark, and the management is in no rush to get her back after the early-season debacle. Fans are calling for reinforcement in contrasting attitudes that could get them at least to the postseason.

One name? “Odyssey Sims.” 

The former LA Sparks star was not shy of supporters, who has been an asset on both ends of the floor. But the Magic Johnson co-owned team waived her earlier this season, likely making room for Julie Allemand. The 2012 NCAA Champion had played 12 games and started 11 this season. while averaging a respectable 9.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. With 13 years of experience, Fever fans are vouching for her. 

“Odyssey Sims, immediately,” another fan declared, while one social media user commented, “yeh, i just studied her wikip page, if Sims is not a locker room problem, she is the obvious choice.”

Sims has had no publicly documented locker room issues in her WNBA career, but considering the DeWanna Bonner disappointment and the Fever players’ ask to protect the locker room atmosphere, the fans want no stone unturned when it comes to future signings. Moreover, Sims has a good resume to show for the demand. Being named an All-Star in 2019, the guard has averaged in double-digits five times in her career.

Given the right opportunity, Sims can show up exceptionally. So “Odyssey Sims, stop asking silly questions,” one argued. However, fans’ suggestions weren’t limited to her. There was a second popular fan, and quite interesting in every way. 

“Chennedy Carter Kiss & make up!” a comment read. It seems the fans don’t care about the past anymore. The former Chicago Sky guard had landed on the wrong side of Fever fans after the infamous hip-check last year. But her on-court prowess has been admired often. She averaged career-high 17.5 points and 3.1 assists per game in Chicago last season, largely keeping them afloat when Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso were sidelined.

Could this move risk stirring up the very locker room drama fans fear? Well, that’s up to the front office. Until then, the championship hopes and slipping, and as Stephanie White notes, the team has got to continue staying resilient.