Caitlin Clark’s Injury Forces Fever to Adjust Early Championship Hopes
The Indiana Fever entered the 2025 WNBA season with high hopes and a revamped roster aimed at serious playoff contention. Following an ambitious offseason, the Fever brought in a mix of veteran experience, like DeWanna Bonner, and emerging talents, such as Sophie Cunningham. These additions complemented the existing core trio of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston—instantly turning Indiana into a team to watch.
But now, just as the regular season begins to take shape, Indiana has hit an early snag in its championship chase.
On Monday, the team announced that Caitlin Clark will be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks due to a left quadriceps injury. This comes at a critical early-season moment, as the Fever sit at 2–2 through their first four games.
The Fever opened the year in dominant fashion, crushing the Chicago Sky by more than 30 points in their debut. But since then, each contest has come down to the wire. They dropped a heartbreaking one-point loss to the Atlanta Dream and came up just short against the defending champion New York Liberty, losing by only two points—both games with Clark leading the charge.
Now, the absence of their generational rookie talent raises questions: Can Indiana hold its ground without Clark? Will they find ways to compete and win, or will they stumble without their on-court leader?
Here are three bold predictions for the Fever during Clark’s time away from the court.
1. Kelsey Mitchell Becomes Indiana’s Primary Scorer
Often overshadowed by bigger names, Kelsey Mitchell continues to be one of Indiana’s most consistent offensive weapons. A two-time All-Star and longtime franchise cornerstone, Mitchell has quietly averaged over 17.5 points per game each season since 2020.
With Clark sidelined, Mitchell is expected to take on a heavier scoring load—and she’s more than capable. Her ability to drain three-pointers, attack in transition, and create her own shot makes her a threat at all levels of the court.
While it might seem like a safe bet, this prediction goes a step further: Mitchell will lead the Fever in scoring in every game Clark misses, or at the very least maintain the highest scoring average over that stretch. With a leadership role to embrace and the offensive freedom to take more shots, Mitchell should thrive in Clark’s absence.
2. Sydney Colson Will Set a Career High in Minutes Played
Veteran guard Sydney Colson has been named the starter in Clark’s place for the upcoming game. Though she’s been in the league since 2011, Colson has mostly played a reserve role and has started only 10 games in her WNBA career.
So far this season, her impact has been limited—just four total points in 24 minutes across four games. That’s about to change.
While Colson isn’t expected to match Clark’s minutes or production, she will be a crucial part of the rotation moving forward. Especially with a relatively thin backcourt, Colson’s experience and poise will be valuable.
The prediction? Colson will average at least 15 minutes per game while Clark recovers—significantly more than her career average of 10.5 minutes per game. She doesn’t need to dominate the box score, but her ability to steady the ship and allow others to rest will be key to Indiana’s success during this stretch.
3. The Fever Will Win Every Game Without Caitlin Clark
This final prediction is a bold one, but it’s rooted in the confidence Indiana has built this season.
With a strong core and a balanced mix of veterans and youth, the Fever have shown they can hang with any team. Even without Clark, they remain competitive—and the schedule may work in their favor.
Assuming Clark is out for the estimated two-week period, Indiana is projected to play four games during that span: two against the struggling Washington Mystics, one against the Connecticut Sun, and another matchup with the Chicago Sky.
While the Sun pose a real challenge, the Fever have already handled Chicago easily, and the Mystics have had a slow start to their season. With players like Mitchell, Boston, and Bonner leading the way, Indiana has enough firepower and defensive ability to run the table in Clark’s absence.
If they do, it will solidify their status as one of the league’s deepest and most dangerous teams—and serve as proof that this team can win even without their superstar rookie on the court.
In Conclusion
Losing Caitlin Clark is a tough blow for a Fever team with championship ambitions. However, adversity often reveals a team’s true identity. With experienced scorers like Kelsey Mitchell ready to step up, reliable depth from veterans like Sydney Colson, and a manageable schedule ahead, Indiana has the pieces to not just survive—but thrive—while their star guard recovers.
If these predictions come true, the Fever could prove they’re more than just Clark’s team. They could show they’re already a legitimate title contender in 2025.
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