If any Indiana Fever fan had to name one of the worst possible matches, it would surely be the recent one against the Connecticut Sun. Not just because the team suffered a loss at the hands of a squad that stood at the bottom with a 1–6 record, but mainly because the only hopes the Fever had since Caitlin Clark’s injury were shattered. While the Fever were following their game plan, as outlined by Stephanie White, to play Colson as the point guard and Cunningham as a secondary option off the bench, as the game unfolded, both of those reliable options went down.
First, it was Colson who suffered an upper leg injury after a collision with Jacy Sheldon. Then it was Cunningham, who rolled her ankle late in the fourth quarter with nearly six minutes remaining. That’s how two more guards joined Clark on the bench. It’s been two days since then, but one question still lingers: What now?
Will Colson and Cunningham return??
No doubt, losing two more guards is a major hit for the Fever, especially since there are currently six forwards on the roster. But amidst the adversity, there’s a positive update on the injury status of Colson and Cunningham. “I think we got good news from both of their MRIs — as good of news as you can get,” said White in one of the recent press conferences. So while neither guard is seriously injured, it seems they still might remain out for some of the upcoming games.
“And so right now, it’s a day-to-day thing. We’re looking forward to hopefully them returning sooner rather than later, but at the same time, it depends on how each of them progresses in rehab.” That simply means it’s unlikely they’ll return for the upcoming game against the Mystics.
Washington Mystics Emily Engstler (21), Indiana Fever Sophie Cunningham (8) and Washington Mystics Sonia Citron (22) fight for a loose ball Saturday, May 3, 2025, during a preseason game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Simply put, the Fever squad will show up with two guards, Lexie Hull and Kelsey Mitchell, and six forwards. And that too when the team is coming off three consecutive losses: one against the Liberty when Clark played, and two when she was out. That is clearly a problem. So, the Fever has come up with a temporary solution.
“We’re down in numbers, but we’re looking at adding another player, a replacement player, to help us with our numbers,” shared Indiana Fever President Kelly Krauskopf. The Fever qualifies under the “break glass in case of emergency” rule, allowing them to sign a replacement with just eight active players.
Of course, it will take time, but until then? The Fever will play with their remaining players against a Mystics squad that’s nearly at full strength—except for Georgia Amoore. Notably, the rookie sensation underwent successful surgery to repair a right ankle ACL tear and has been out since then. But, the question now is: how will the Fever manage?
Indiana Fever starting lineup
Lexie Hull
Kelsey Mitchell
Natasha Howard
Aliyah Boston
DeWanna Bonner
Washington Mystics starting lineup
Sug Sutton
Sonia Citron
Brittney Sykes
Kiki Iriafen
Stephanie Dolson
What to Expect this time around??
Looking back at their previous matchup against the Indiana Fever, it was clear that Aliyah Boston and her squad had their vulnerabilities. The Fever fell 83-77, exposing their inconsistent defense; they’ve now allowed 83 or more points in four of their last five games. Offensively, they’ve been just as shaky.
That said, Washington’s offence hasn’t looked any better. The Mystics have been stuck in the 70-point range far too often, though their defense has been slightly more reliable than Indiana’s. But after watching the Fever’s recent performance against the Connecticut Sun, where it was fast-break points that made all the difference, it’s not hard to believe they can bounce back. In fact, ESPN is giving the Fever a 71.4% chance to win this one. Let’s see if they live up to it.
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