First Caitlin Clark. Now Sydney Colson. Injuries have derailed what once looked like the perfect game plan for Stephanie White and the Indiana Fever. The team entered the season with momentum, going 3-0 in preseason and crushing their opener with a dominant 93-58 win on May 17, 2025. But Caitlin Clark’s left quad sprain sidelined the 2024 Rookie of the Year. Was that the end for the Fever? Not quite.
Known for her adaptability, head coach Stephanie White always has a contingency plan. When they ruled out Clark for two weeks, White turned to veterans Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham to fill the gap. But now, with both of them also sidelined, White has made another bold move. And that was signing Aari McDonald to a replacement contract just ahead of the team’s third game without Clark.
Indiana Fever HC White talked about the situation ahead of their match against the Washington Mystics. “I mean she’s got to play,” Stephanie White said. “She’s brought in here to play, to handle the ball. We’ll do a good job of keeping it simple for her, but she’s a player. I mean, this is what she does.”Addressing Aari McDonald’s sudden entry into the roster mid-season, head coach Stephanie White was clear about her purpose. While White intends to ease McDonald into the system, she also holds high expectations for the new guard.
Aari McDonald (Credits: Instagram)
Selected third overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft, the former LA Sparks guard is known for her perimeter defense, court vision, and quick decision-making skills that could make her a crucial short-term asset. Praising McDonald’s early impact, White said, “She’s a point guard. She absorbs information quickly. She’s been watching film, and what she’s shown in practice has been very good.”
White believes McDonald can step up as a floor leader and help stabilize the Fever in Caitlin Clark’s absence. With the team lacking offensive depth and aiming to strengthen its defense, McDonald’s signing is a strategic move. “I’ve always been impressed with her defensive activity,” White added.
McDonald is also expected to sync with Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell to assert control in the paint and generate enough scoring chances to pull the Fever out of their current slump—especially as they prepare to face the high-energy Mystics.
Indiana Fever lost two prominent players
The Indiana Fever has a tough time traversing through the 2025 regular season, with Caitlin Clark sidelined for a straight two weeks. But the worst was yet to come. The roster lost two key players—veteran Sydney Colson and second ball handler Sophie Cunningham—to serious injuries against the Connecticut Sun. The team, which had been relying on Colson after Clark’s exit, was suddenly in jeopardy.
Facing the last-place Connecticut Sun, featuring veterans like DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Cunningham, and Colson, the Fever suffered a close 85-83 loss. That was indeed the Sun’s first win of the season. Indiana started strong in the first quarter. But the Sun took control in the second quarter and held on for the upset.
“We need Sydney’s poise to get us back to playing our brand of basketball,” head coach White stressed. Colson suffered a leg injury in the game. However, they expect her to return soon as the Fever prepare to face the Washington Mystics.
In her first game against the Mystics, Colson averaged 4 points on 2-of-7 shooting, but also committed 5 fouls and 3 turnovers. How will the Fever hold their own against the young Mystics roster? Will they fall again to Kiki Iriafen and Brittney Sykes’ tactics, or will Aari McDonald bring new energy and lead them to victory? Only time will tell.
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