When the news broke on September 4 that Caitlin Clark would miss the rest of the 2025 season, many around the WNBA assumed the Indiana Fever were finished. The team had a 21 to 20 record at the time and was clinging to playoff hopes while coming off two straight losses.
They were also dealing with the season-ending injuries of Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson, which left their rotations completely unsettled. The situation looked dire.
What happened next surprised almost everyone. Indiana closed the regular season with three straight wins and punched a ticket to the playoffs. They went on to upset the Atlanta Dream in the first round and pushed the Las Vegas Aces to the limit in a five-game semifinal series.
The Fever eventually fell short in an overtime thriller after Kelsey Mitchell suffered a leg injury in Game 5, but their resilience changed the way the league viewed them.
Honestly, I think the missing piece is just being healthy
Indiana Fever: A team closer to contention than many thought
With several key veterans entering free agency, the Fever will need to keep their core intact heading into 2026. That context set the stage for Sophie Cunningham’s recent interview with Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports, where she was asked what Indiana is missing to make the Finals.
Her response was simple and surprisingly direct. “Honestly, I think the missing piece is just being healthy,” Cunningham said. She noted that even with half the roster battling injuries, the team was only a few key plays away from a Finals appearance. She believes the adversity the Fever endured during the season could become a strength if the roster stays on the court together.
Cunningham also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the CBA and free agency. Despite that, she made it clear that if the group returns healthy and united, the path to a championship is within reach.
Her comments match the growing sentiment among analysts. Indiana already showed it can defend at a high level in the playoffs. The chemistry around the young core continues to grow, and the coaching staff has the team playing with a confidence that was missing in previous years.
With Clark returning, Mitchell healthy and Cunningham eager to rejoin the lineup, the Fever do not appear to need a dramatic overhaul.
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