The Indiana Fever will be without Caitlin Clark for at least two weeks after she suffered a left quadriceps strain. Clark has been the engine of Indiana’s offense. Through the first four games of the 2025 season, she led the team in scoring, assists, and fast-break production.
In their first game without her, the Fever lost 83-77 to the Washington Mystics. The drop-off was immediate.
Indiana’s scoring fell by 11 points. They didn’t register a single fast-break bucket, and the offense slowed to a crawl. With Clark expected to miss at least three more games, the Fever have to adjust quickly to stay competitive.
Kelsey Mitchell Needs to Step Up as a Scorer
Kelsey Mitchell is the team’s most dependable perimeter threat behind Clark. She’s averaging 17.8 points per game and has the handle and strength to attack defenders off the dribble. With Clark sidelined, Mitchell needs to take on a bigger scoring role and push the pace.
She struggled against Washington, finishing 4-for-16 from the field. But her aggression and shot volume remain crucial.
Kelsey Mitchell becomes the 5th fastest guard in WNBA history to reach 4,000 PTS. pic.twitter.com/XGRfGPSGf5
— FeverStats (@FeverStats) May 29, 2025
Mitchell isn’t known for her passing. She’s averaged just 2.8 assists in her career. But she doesn’t need to be Clark. She needs to pressure defenses, collapse the paint, and force rotations. That opens up shots for veterans like DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard.
Head coach Stephanie White and her staff should give Mitchell full freedom to attack, especially in transition.
Aliyah Boston Needs More Paint Touches
Aliyah Boston took just five shots against Washington, with only one attempt by halftime. That can’t happen. She was the 2023 Rookie of the Year and remains the Fever’s most efficient post scorer.
Before Clark’s injury, the two had built strong chemistry in two-player actions. Without her, Indiana has to find new ways to get Boston the ball deep in the paint.
Aliyah Boston is the first player in the WNBA this season to record 10+ blocks 🔒 pic.twitter.com/7rdWzw79db
— Polymarket Hoops (@StatMamba) May 29, 2025
“We’re making it a point of contention to get her touches on the block,” White said after the game. “I thought [Washington] did a really good job of changing bodies and being physical with her.”
Still, the Fever need to be more intentional. They can’t rely only on handoffs or isolations. They need off-ball movement and entry passes that let Boston go to work where she’s most effective.
Point Guard Play Must Improve With Clark Sidelined
Sydney Colson started in Clark’s place and posted four points, three assists and three turnovers in 31 minutes. Sophie Cunningham added nine points, but both guards were part of a static offensive effort.
The Fever had just 15 assists and more turnovers than assists for the first time all season. Before Clark’s injury, they were averaging 19.6 assists per game. She accounted for nearly half.
Sydney Colson joins the starting lineup. pic.twitter.com/9iSSVSzhNc
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 28, 2025
“You can see when physicality happens or defensive pressure picks up, we revert to some old habits,” White said.
That can’t continue. The Fever need more pace, better spacing and quicker decisions. Colson has to take command of the offense and run it with purpose. Cunningham needs to play off that and keep the ball moving.
Defense Has to Be Sharper Without Clark
Indiana gave up 48 points in the paint and 12 offensive rebounds to Washington. Aliyah Boston and Damiris Dantas both had foul trouble, limiting their ability to defend the rim.
The team also allowed 10 fast-break points and didn’t score any of their own in transition. That’s not a winning formula.
MORE: Caitlin Clark Confronts Officials at Halftime
“It was attention to detail, knowing personnel, knowing defensive schemes,” White said. “We just weren’t sharp.”
Even without Clark, there’s enough veteran presence on defense to hold the line. Howard and Bonner have the experience. It’s about effort, positioning and cleaning the glass.
Should the Fever Explore Roster Moves?
Clark’s injury opens a short window for the front office to evaluate the roster. The trade deadline is still ahead, and free agents are out there. Adding another guard or shot creator could help.
Marina Mabrey is a possible trade option. She played for Stephanie White in Chicago and would bring offense and toughness. But the cost could be a future first-round pick.
Rebecca Allen might be a more realistic target. She hasn’t seen major minutes in Chicago and could help Indiana’s spacing.
Aerial Powers is still unsigned and has the size and scoring ability to provide a spark. Diamond DeShields was recently waived by Connecticut and brings speed and playoff experience. Another name to watch is Kate Martin. She’s currently on the Golden State Valkyries but hasn’t had a major role. A reunion with Clark could help both sides.
Diamond DeShields, Jacy Sheldon plus rookies Saniya Rivers, Rayah Marshall and Madison Hayes getting in some extra post-practice work with assistant coach Ashlee McGee pic.twitter.com/yIscLLYudt
— Emily Adams (@eaadams6) May 13, 2025
If internal fixes aren’t enough, the Fever shouldn’t wait. The window to stay in the playoff race is narrow. Now is the time to act.
