2025 is the epitome of everything that could’ve gone wrong for the Indiana Fever. Already struggling with mounting injuries across the team, roster drama (think DeWanna Bonner controversy), and a slipping playoff dream, their latest setback was just the type that ends up bothering you for a long time. We’re talking about the team’s second-straight loss to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Friday night. What exactly went wrong? Well, hear it from head coach Stephanie White herself.

When asked about Indiana’s struggles on the defensive end, Stephanie responded, “I think those two runs that they had into the second, beginning of the third. Turnovers for scores, part of it. You can’t set your defense with that. Letting players get to their strengths. You can’t lose Kayla McBride. I mean, she’s one of the prolific 3-point shooters in league history. We had moments where we had some breakdowns in personnel. And it hurts us. I mean, they’re the best team in the league right now for a reason and they make you pay when you have those mistakes.”

But there’s other storyline at play here: The Minnesota Lynx’s impeccable form. Returning from a sprained right ankle-induced seven-game absence, Napheesa Collier scored a game-high 32 points on 11-of-16 shooting, and nine rebounds, while teammate Courtney Williams answered with a double-double (14 points and 10 assists). Kayla McBride, who had scored 29 points in the previous game, tallied 13 points. Reacting to the win and her return, Collier said, “It definitely felt good, I feel like I had to knock a little bit of the rust off, Courtney (Williams) could have had 11 assists. But more than anything, it just felt good to be back with the team. You know, sitting (on the bench), it feels like you’re on the outside when you’re not playing. I’m having such FOMO (fear of missing out), it feels so good to be on the court with them again.”

Well, that happiness is yet to seep over to the Indiana side which, despite Kelsey Mitchell’s team-high 26 points (7-for-12 from the field and 10-for-11 from the free throw line), fell to eighth in the WNBA standings. Clinging to the final playoff spot, the team is currently 4-6 in its last 10 games, and 19-18 overall. But that’s not even the worst news amid this heartbreak.

On August 20, a report came out disclosing Caitlin Clark’s injury. Per the report, Caitlin Clark suffered a very mild bone bruise in her ankle on August 7. Though the report did mention that the injury is not going to have any impact on CC’s recovery from a groin injury, the fact that it came out nearly 2 weeks after the injury is baffling. While the fans might have been hoping that Caitlin would come back for this crucial stretch, this report has put a damper on it. In this crucial stretch, the Fever still has to play the league leaders Minnesota Lynx, twice more.

That in itself is a big challenge. Now, add that to what we’re about to tell you, and you’ll understand why exactly you should start worrying…

Indiana Fever lose yet another guard

The backcourt position for the Indiana Fever has been like a game of musical chairs. With so much turnover due to injuries, the Fever are now up to their fourth Caitlin Clark replacement on a hardship contract. The latest one, however, might also be due to injury to a prior CC replacement, Odyssey Sims. 

Odyssey Sims was signed by the Indiana Fever early in August. During Indiana’s loss against the Minnesota Lynx, she suffered an injury. During the fourth quarter, Odyssey Sims limped off the floor after attempting a shot. She went to the locker room along with the team’s trainers. Sims returned to the bench but didn’t go back into the game. After the game, coach Stephanie White revealed that the player is currently awaiting further evaluation of her injury.

Though Odyssey’s return to the bench does seem like an encouraging sign, the Fever have wasted no time and signed another guard. This time around, the Fever has signed veteran guard Aerial Powers. Aerial last played in the 2025 WNBA season with the Golden State Valkyries. While the wait on Odyssey Sims and Caitlin Clark’s return from injury remains, Powers’ first mission would be to help Indiana get through this tough stretch, including a doubleheader against the Minnesota Lynx.