The Indiana Fever did not seem destined to reach the postseason in 2025, but a quick tactical adjustment by head coach Stephanie White gave them the chance to push all the way to the semifinals. With both Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham sidelined by injuries, the team was expected to collapse. Instead, the Fever found resilience and advanced far beyond expectations.
Caitlin Clark loses support after her injury
Caitlin Clark arrived in the WNBA as a phenomenon, immediately becoming the league’s darling and amassing millions of fans. She even drew admiration from several former NBA players. Yet that shine appears to have faded.
Among those who once championed her is Jeff Teague, a vocal supporter of Clark early on, but since August, he has taken a more critical stance. With Clark sidelined, Teague’s recent comments suggest Indiana may have fared better without her on the court, at least during this postseason stretch.
This is a good thing for the Fever.”… “But it’s a challenge now. Y’all went this far without your superstar player and without Sophie Cunningham, right? If it’s a down season next year, that’s the kicker.
Clark’s season officially ended in early September after a groin injury ruled her out. Cunningham, a reliable presence for Indiana, was also lost to a knee injury, leaving the Fever with a bleak outlook. Forced to adapt, the franchise looked elsewhere for solutions.
Indiana signed Shey Peddy and Odyssey Sims to short-term seven-day contracts, and both delivered meaningful contributions. Their presence helped stabilize a team in danger of unraveling.
Looking ahead to next season for the Fever and Caitlin Clark
The Fever’s 2025 campaign concluded with their elimination in Game 5 of the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces. In a hard-fought series, the team from Las Vegas prevailed and advanced to the finals, where they will face the Phoenix Mercury.
Now, Indiana must turn the page and begin preparing for 2026. From Jeff Teague’s perspective, Clark’s return places added pressure on the franchise.
Are you shuffling the deck? Or you-I’m saying like if it’s a down season next year, I mean, obviously you building around Caitlin. She the face of the W. She the biggest, you know what I mean? But you got to bring back Odyssey Sims. If you don’t bring her back, it look crazy.
The Fever remain in a rebuilding phase, making it imperative to consider carefully their next roster decisions.
In Clark’s absence, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston carried the team, stepping up as leaders and delivering key performances. With front-office planning already underway, Indiana must weigh how to continue restructuring while honoring the contributions of players who lifted the team when its stars were unavailable.
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