For much of the 2025 WNBA season, Indiana Fever fans wondered if their team would even have a shot at the playoffs. Injuries piled up, star players spent more time in street clothes than in uniform, and the roster often looked like it was running on fumes.
Yet against all odds, the Fever fought their way to a 24-20 record and punched their ticket to the postseason. The cloud of injuries still lingers, but head coach Stephanie White recently shared how sidelined players continue to lift the team, even from the bench.
How Are Injured Players Still Contributing to the Fever’s Success?
During a recent practice session, White was asked how injured players were influencing the locker room and workouts. Without hesitation, she praised their presence, noting that even though they can’t contribute on the floor, they provide emotional energy and motivation.
“It’s huge. I mean, number one, their communication, their perspective. Number two is just emotionally having them on board. It’s so hard when you are injured because often you feel disconnected from the team. We were on the road a lot this last month, so we are away from them a lot. You know they are finally able to travel from a medical standpoint.”
“So you know, having the whole group here, having those guys here gives us a little bit of a boost emotionally. And then have their perspective. I mean, we have 3 point guards that are sitting on the sideline who can talk to our team in huddles, who can talk to our team throughout the course of dead balls, and when they come on/off the floor,” said White during the practice session interview.
Steph about the importance of having (most of) the injured players on the bench supporting —
“It gives us a boost emotionally & having their perspective. Just having 3 PGs on the sideline who can talk to our team in huddles, dead balls, and when they come on/off the floor.” pic.twitter.com/3P06Jb5aAI
— allison (@_girltalk) September 13, 2025
What Does the Fever’s Current Injury Report Look Like?
The Fever’s injury list is as long as any in the league. Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, and Chloe Bibby have all been sidelined for significant stretches. Just a day ago, another name was added to the list.
According to team insider Scott Agness, center Damiris Dantas has entered concussion protocol. That rules her out for Sunday’s Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Dream.
Fever have a new addition to the injury report, a sixth player.
Center Damiris Dantas is in the concussion protocol and not available for Game 1 on Sunday.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) September 13, 2025
Clark has been absent since the July 15 matchup against the Connecticut Sun. The injury happened late in the fourth quarter when, after dishing an assist to Kelsey Mitchell, she limped up the court before collapsing in frustration. She even slammed her head against the basket support before leaving the game.
Great angle here from Erik Dobratz of Caitlin Clark’s anguish after an apparent injury. Coach Steph White told @chloepeterson67 that Clark, “felt a little something in her groin”. Clark’s being evaluated.
h/t 🎥@Erikd25 of our sister station, WTNH. pic.twitter.com/MAzTH90mDq
— Keith Murphy (@MurphyKeith) July 16, 2025
Her sophomore campaign has been riddled with setbacks as she has missed a total of 31 games during the 2025 season due to a leg issue, left quad strain, and a nagging groin problem. Before her injuries, Clark averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and five rebounds.
At one point, there was cautious optimism that Clark might return before the regular season’s end. However, she later took to her personal X account to announce she would remain out for the year.
“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling,” read a part of Clark’s statement.
The injury bug didn’t stop there. Cunningham’s season also ended abruptly on August 17 against the Sun. Attempting to defend Bria Hartley’s aggressive drive, Cunningham’s knee twisted awkwardly, forcing her out of the game after recording just one rebound.
Medical evaluations later confirmed an MCL tear, effectively shutting her down for the rest of the campaign. The good news is that rehab timelines suggest she should be cleared to return by early 2026, offering hope for the future.
“Well, they say like four months. Yeah, they say like four months. I’d say like January, February, but I feel like I am not trying to say anything, but I think I heal quicker and recover quite fast. And so maybe a tab of four, but oh my god,” stated Cunningham during an episode of her “Show Me Something Sophie Cunningham & West Wilson” podcast.
August 7 was another dark day for the Fever when they lost two guards in the same contest versus the Phoenix Mercury. Colson tore the ACL in her left knee early in the game, while McDonald fractured her right foot in the fourth quarter. Both were immediately ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, Bibby is also sidelined with a knee injury, leaving Indiana dangerously thin. As the Fever prepare for the September 14 showdown with Atlanta, the weight will fall heavily on healthy stars like Mitchell and Aliyah Boston to step up and carry the load.
