Three injuries within two weeks should have broken the Indiana Fever. Sophie Cunningham shouted after Bria Hartley fell on her right knee and stumbled off the court while needing support from the medical staff. At the time, Fever had already dug a hole for themselves as they were trailing 28-13. They went even deeper as the first half went on, finishing 19 points behind the 6-27 Sun while getting fewer field goals than their turnovers.
Even the best players of the league would struggle coming back from this, but somehow Kelsey Mitchell and Co. found a way. Mitchell had 34 of her 38 points in the second half while providing 6 assists. Aliyah Boston continued her form with another double-double. The surprise package of this game, who was starting for the first time in Fever colors, was Odyssey Sims. She came up big with 19 points and a team-high 7 assists while chipping in with 4 rebounds. However, this analyst wasn’t initially sure white Sims took Lexie Hull’s spot in the lineup.
Rachel DeMita said on the Courtside Club Podcast, “She took Lexi Hall’s starting spot. And I can’t even lie, I was a little confused on that. I was like, I don’t know. I feel like you should keep Lexi in the mix. You really need her, and you’re really going to need Lexi for playoffs, assuming that the Fever do make the playoffs.”
When the line-ups were announced, the fans were also furious that Hull was left out. She had just put up that 17-point performance against the Chicago Sky, and she always brings the energy to this team. Hull was among the best defenders of this squad, and Sims hadn’t really impressed yet. She did have an 11-point game against the Mystics, but Hull has been with this team a lot longer.
White decided to throw Sims in the deep end, and it worked as DeMita further accepted, “But Odyssey Sims stepped up big, and she had 19 points on the night. She stepped up big. She made some big plays, and it seems like she’s also really finding her own in there.”
There is no question that Indiana needs ball handlers on the court, and this Sims’ performance has assured them that she can do the job. The Fever has signed her to another 7-day contract, so the trust is only growing as her backup, Kyra Lambert, was even released. This means Sims is the only fit point guard on the roster for now, but they can make more moves until their game on Friday.
“Odyssey was huge for us,” coach Stephanie White said after the game. “Her ability to find the right read, manage the clock and game situation in the fourth quarter and overtime, that was big. We depend on her and she’s continuing to grow into her role.”
However, this means Hull will likely continue from the bench, which is a pity. She has averaged 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in the last five games, but her true value is in her defense. With a defensive rating of 98.7, she is arguably the best defender on this Fever roster. Even then, the squad situation needs a point guard, which puts Hull in a difficult spot. With Cunningham likely out for at least a few games, Hull needs to come back in her early-season form. In any case, Sims seems to have taken over as the premier point guard role and will continue until and unless Clark comes back to retain her place. The stand-in guard has received a strong show of support from Fever forward Aliyah Boston.
Aliyah Boston Delivers Powerful Statement to The Stand-In Guard
In just her third year in the WNBA, Aliyah Boston seems like a veteran in this Fever roster. Boston’s 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists meant it was her 15th double-double of the season, tying the franchise record. She has been missing Caitlin Clark and even did their pregame ritual alone before the Sun matchup. Her two-woman game with Clark made things look so simple. But her new partnership with Sims could be blossoming too, as she has sent a strong message to their new point guard.
“Listen, we know why you’re here. You know why you’re here. You know how to score. You know how to defend,” Boston told Sims. “Be you.”
Sims has been in a difficult patch over the last few years of her career. Despite being a veteran in the league, she hasn’t found a place to stay for long, being a midseason addition most of the time. It seemed she had found it with the Sparks this season, but she was released after 12 games, even after averaging 9.8 points and 3.5 assists. Then came the opportunity to temporarily replace Clark’s place on Fever, and so far, she has taken it with both hands.
“She really just embraced what we’ve been telling her,” Boston further said. “She got downhill, got to the free throw line and really just dominated. Her presence was felt.”
However, it was just one game, and even Sims knows she needs consistency. It won’t be easy, as the Fever has one of the toughest remaining schedules. They still have to play the Minnesota Lynx three times, and the Storm, Sparks, Valkyries, and Mercury once each. But if Sims is a true competitor, she will be looking at those games as an opportunity rather than a threat. With Clark likely out for a few more games, the stage is set for Sims to be another Aari McDonald-like signing as the Fever continue forging through their injury crisis.
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