The Indiana Fever are facing a difficult stretch without their star player Caitlin Clark and she might not be the only one under pressure either as the defeat to the Washington Mystics may have revealed a far harsher reality.
The 23-year-old is the team’s leading scorer and primary playmaker, has been instrumental in their offense, and her absence has naturally exposed the team’s vulnerabilities.
There was cautious optimism that the Fever could hold steady. The logic was that less-utilized players could step up, build confidence, and form stronger bonds with teammates. However, once the games began without their star guard, it became evident how difficult the situation would be.
One such player targeted by criticism is Sydney Colson, who was charged with stepping into Clark’s place a significant increase in playing time following just 24 total minutes of action in the first three games of the season.
In her first extended run in the starting lineup, Colson played 31 minutes but struggled significantly. She scored only four points on 2-for-7 shooting, accumulated five fouls, and committed three turnovers in Wednesday’s defeat.
Ultimately, she and her team slipped to an 83-77 loss on the road, dropping their season record to 2-3, as it transpired that Clark had actually left a cavernous void. The fan response has been immediate and critical.
One user commented, “So the backup PG is really Sydney Colson. I can’t believe I’m expecting a team with this type of PG to win a single game.”
A second said, “I wanted to tell Sydney Colson to leave the basketball before the basketball leaves her but it’s too late, the basketball has already left her.”
And a third wrote, “I feel bad but pls get Sydney Colson out the game.”
Can the Fever turn their fortunes around?
The discontent reflects broader concerns about the Fever’s ability to maintain competitiveness without Clark’s leadership on the floor, with fears that they may be a one-woman team.
Now the head coach, Stephanie White, faces a significant dilemma. The team lacks depth at point guard, limiting her options for rearranging rotations. Whether White will continue to give Colson opportunities or experiment with different lineups remains uncertain.
Regardless, the coming weeks will test the Fever‘s resilience and creativity on offense and the next opportunity for the Fever to respond will be at home on Friday, May 30 against the struggling Connecticut Sun, who have yet to secure a win this season.
This game represents a crucial chance for the Fever to regroup and demonstrate they can compete despite Clark’s absence and White will be keen for a win against her former team too.
The absence of Clark starkly highlights how reliant the Fever are on their star player. Until the team can find consistent production elsewhere, the challenge remains immense, and the pressure on players like Sydney Colson intensifies with every minute on the court.
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