With Caitlin Clark sidelined and the Indiana Fever struggling with their backcourt, Stephanie White turned to a player with both a decorated past and a difficult injury history, Kyra Lambert, and here’s why she insists it will be different this time.
Signed on a seven-day hardship contract, the 28-year-old has made it clear she is determined to silence doubts and prove herself as a worthy stopgap, and possibly, a longer-term solution as she joins Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull.
The need for a guard intensified following Erica Wheeler‘s departure to the Seattle Storm and the injury crisis that followed as setbacks to Aari McDonald and Colson left White with limited options.
McDonald, who had been a standout hardship signee before suffering a season-ending broken right foot, was meant to help ease the burden on Clark. Instead, Lambert has stepped into a pressure-filled role at a pivotal point in the Fever’s season.
And her journey to the WNBA has been defined by resilience. A former Duke standout, her college career was derailed when she tore her ACL during the 2017 NCAA tournament, forcing her to miss the following season.
A second tear during the 2018 preseason then delayed her return even further, keeping her off the court for two consecutive years as she missed valuable development time and a shot to play professional basketball.
Still, Lambert refused to let injuries dictate her future. She returned to complete her college career with Texas, where she averaged 5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals in her final season.
Her persistence eventually took her overseas, where she excelled for multiple European clubs, and most recently, she starred for Olympiacos, averaging 15.4 points and 6.3 assists per game.
Now, with Caitlin Clark unavailable as well as McDonald, Kyra’s role becomes even more crucial in the backend of the 2025 WNBA season as the Fever look to chase down a spot in the playoffs and Lambert feels up to the task.
“I’ve been watching the WNBA for years,” Lambert said, of her familiarity with the Fever. “I mean, it’s the best basketball in the world, so I’ve been watching. I’ve been studying.
“You know, being able to watch it and see it from a professional point of view has helped the transition.
“The girls, the organization has been great in welcoming me here. Just got me up to speed quickly. I’m just really excited to join the team.”
Clark misses Thursday, August 14 clash with Las Vegas Aces
Clark was ruled out of the August 14 game against the Las Vegas Aces, marking her third consecutive absence due to a right groin injury sustained in the July 15 win over the Connecticut Sun.
The team announced there was no timetable for her return but confirmed medical evaluations earlier in the week in New York showed “no additional injuries or damage” and the Fever stated they would prioritize Clark‘s long-term health as the second half of the season progressed.
The Aces matchup became the 12th regular-season game Clark missed in 2025 because of injuries after she had previously sat out five games with a left quad issue and four with a left groin injury.
The problems made her miss the Fever‘s Commissioner’s Cup win on July 1, the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, and the 3-point competition and she will hope she can make it back in time for the playoffs in September.
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