The life without Caitlin Clark begins now for the Indiana Fever. The rookie superstar is sidelined with a left quadriceps injury and is expected to miss at least two weeks. In their four games so far, the Fever have played just 20 minutes without Clark–and somehow, they’ve outscored opponents by just one point. So the next four games? A real challenge. But it’s not all doom and gloom–at least not according to one national reporter.
Experimentation has been a major theme for the Indiana Fever through the first two weeks of the season. With only five players returning from last year’s roster, Coach Stephanie White has been testing out lineups since training camp kicked off in late April. And you’d expect to see Caitlin Clark in nearly every combination, being the centerpiece. So, going without her, the Fever may have found an opportunity for the rest to step up. Seerat Sohi of The Ringer WNBA Show is looking at Aliyah Boston.
“It actually unlocks a lot of opportunity for the Fever, where I think that they should start doing some stuff that they should probably incorporate even when Caitlin comes in,” she starts. “If you can have her [Boston] straight up as the person catching the ball on the inbounds or if you can just have Natasha Howard or DeWanna Bonner playing that role, I think it makes running that offense a lot easier,” she said.
Aliyah Boston is having a great season so far. She’s averaging career highs in points, rebounds, field goal percentage and blocks. But there’s a catch to it as well. 19 of her 31 made shots so far have come off assists from Caitlin Clark. So now, with Clark sidelined, the question looms–can Boston keep up this pace without her floor general?
With Caitlin Clark out, expect the Fever to slow things down and lean into a more methodical, defense-first, half-court game. Fortunately, they’ve got the tools to pull it off. This could be the perfect time to unlock DeWanna Bonner! Who has been relegated to the bench now.
Sophie Cunningham, meanwhile, is one of the league’s better off-the-dribble shooters. And let’s not forget Kelsey Mitchell, the all-star has averaged 18.7 points on strong 46/40/83 shooting splits! Surround Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston with shooters like Cunningham and Mitchell, and let the high-low game cook as Sohi says!
Coach White has also shared what the new look Fever could look like without Caitlin Clark as they gear up for what could be four games without their star guard. All eyes are on the adjustments. So, what does the head coach have to say?
Sydney Colson to start in place of Caitlin Clark confirms head coach
Clark has been on fire to start the season, averaging 19 points per game and leading the league with 9.3 assists. She began the season as one of the favorites to win the MVP. So obviously, replacing her will be tough. But the Fever have depth this season. Coach White plans to lean into that as they navigate Clark’s absence.
When asked who would fill Clark’s shoes at point guard, Stephanie White was clear. “We’re going to start Syd at the point tomorrow and give that a look,” she told the media, referring to veteran Sydney Colson.
Oct 23, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Sydney Colson (51) interacts with fans during the Las Vegas Aces championship parade at Toshiba Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Colson, who came to the Fever this offseason from the Las Vegas Aces, is known for her leadership, hustle, and strong presence in the locker room. Even though she hasn’t played much so far this season– this might be her moment to step up and bring some stability to the team. Coach White also hinted that Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham might see extended minutes in the upcoming games.
It’s going to be really interesting to see how the Fever hold up without their star player. Thankfully, they’ve got some solid depth this season, which might take some of the pressure off the fans. How Coach White adjusts and runs the offense will be something to keep an eye on in the next few games. So, stay tuned–these upcoming matchups could end up shaping the whole season for the Fever.
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