The unexpected sidelining of Caitlin Clark due to a quad injury has left a gaping void, stripping the Indiana Fever of its primary floor general, tempo-setter, and offensive catalyst.
In the five games since Clark‘s departure from the lineup, the Fever have a 2-3 record, but these victories have been hard-fought, and the defeats have starkly illuminated underlying systemic issues.
Chief among these is the perplexing situation surrounding DeWanna Bonner, one of the WNBA’s most decorated scorers, whose role with the team has become increasingly ambiguous.
This conundrum is particularly striking given Bonner‘s esteemed status in the league. As Chantel Jennings highlighted on a recent podcast, Bonner “came into this season as the league’s fourth all-time leading scorer… DeWanna knows how to get a bucket.”
Yet, eight games into the season, her contributions on offense appear curiously muted. Common wisdom might suggest that Clark‘s absence would naturally create more offensive opportunities for a veteran like Bonner.
However, this hasn’t been the case. While there have been occasional flashes, including a 21-point outing against Washington and 13 against Connecticut, these have been juxtaposed with games where she attempted a mere four or six shots.
“We’re used to seeing DeWanna put up 15, 17 points a game,” Ben Pickman said on the No Offseason podcast, “is that something we’re going to see this season from her at Indiana?
“But like her role, they’re still very much trying to figure out her role as a scorer as a secondary playmaker. She’s taken just six shots per game this year. That is significantly, like by a large margin, her career low.”
A veteran scorer’s uncharted territory
Statistically, this marks Bonner‘s most subdued offensive season to date. She’s currently averaging a career-low 2.1 to 6.4 field goal attempts and a mere 7.4 points per game.
This stands in stark contrast to her prime years with the Phoenix Mercury or even her recent tenure with the Connecticut Sun last season, where she consistently averaged 5-12 shots per game.
The dip in usage feels akin to watching a high-powered flamethrower operating on its lowest setting.
It’s not merely a reduction in shot attempts, either. Bonner‘s role has shifted from a consistent starter to a valuable presence off the bench, transitioning from a primary offensive focal point to a more flexible, adaptable piece within the Fever‘s strategic puzzle.
Indiana are clearly still working to integrate her into a cohesive offensive scheme, and Bonner, in turn, is striving to redefine her place within the team’s new identity.
When Bonner‘s offensive contributions recede, the scoring burden inevitably shifts elsewhere. Lately, that burden has fallen disproportionately on Kelsey Mitchell.
While Mitchell is undoubtedly a talented shooter, the increased pressure appears to be taking its toll. In the recent 77-58 loss to the Atlanta Dream, Mitchell shot a cold 5-of-16 from the field, a paltry 31 percent.
This performance was not an anomaly, as in the other two losses without Clark, she shot 4-of-16 (25.0 percent) and 4-of-15 (26.7 percent), respectively. The numbers paint a clear picture: the scoring load is immense, and Mitchell’s shooting percentages reflect that considerable strain.
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