When Caitlin Clark went down with a quad injury, Indiana didn’t just lose its rookie sensation—they lost their floor general, pace-setter, and go-to scorer. The Fever have gone 3–2 in her absence, but the wins haven’t come easy, and the losses have exposed something deeper. One of the WNBA’s most storied scorers—DeWanna Bonner—is suddenly a riddle Indiana hasn’t solved.
And that’s the strange part. We’re talking about the league’s third all-time leading scorer. Someone who, as Chantel Jennings put it, in the latest episode of her podcast, “came into this season as the league’s fourth all-time leading scorer… DeWanna knows how to get a bucket.” Yet eight games in, her role feels blurry.
In theory, Clark’s absence should’ve opened the floodgates for Bonner. But instead, we’ve seen a few flickers—21 points against Washington, 13 against Connecticut—followed by games where she took just four or six shots. Ben Pickman nailed it: “We’re used to seeing DeWanna put up 15, 17 points a game… is that something we’re going to see this season from her at Indiana? But like her role, they’re still very much trying to figure out her role as a scorer as a secondary playmaker. She’s taken just six shots per game this year. That is significantly, like by a large margin, her career low.”
Statistically, this is Bonner’s quietest offensive season yet—averaging just 2.1 to 6.4 field goal attempts and 7.4 points per game. Compare that to her prime years in Phoenix or even Connecticut last season, where she was averaging 5-12 shots per game, and it feels like watching a flamethrower set to simmer.
There’s more to it than just shot attempts. She’s gone from starting to coming off the bench. From focal point to flexible piece. Indiana’s still figuring out the puzzle, and Bonner’s trying to find her corner.
Because when Bonner fades into the background, the scoring load shifts elsewhere—and lately, that “elsewhere” has been Kelsey Mitchell. A talented shooter, sure, but one who’s clearly been pressing. Against the Dream, Mitchell went 5-of-16 from the field—a cold 31%. And that wasn’t an outlier. In the other two losses without Clark, she shot 4-of-16 (25.0%) and 4-of-15 (26.7%), respectively. The numbers don’t lie. The burden’s heavy, and Mitchell’s shooting reflects that strain.
Caitlin Clark’s Return Nears Amid Fever’s Offensive Woes
Because while the Fever try to keep it together without Caitlin Clark, the void is starting to hum with pressure. Coach Stephanie White confirmed ahead of Tuesday’s game in Atlanta that Clark would once again sit out, missing her fifth straight game with that nagging quad strain. And yes, she’s close—but close isn’t quite court-ready.
“We’re going to be smart, and we’re going to be cautious, and we’re going to play the long game,” White told reporters. “And work her back in very intentionally.”
Jun 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22)reacts to a basket scored by a teammate against the Chicago Sky during the first half of a WNBA game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Clark herself had circled Tuesday for a potential return, but stressed she wouldn’t rush it. With a marquee rematch against the Liberty coming Saturday, there’s still runway to get her back into rhythm.
Still, let’s be real: this team is different without her.
In her first four games, Clark averaged 19 points, 9.3 assists, and 6 rebounds—a triple-threat engine who powered the Fever’s flow. Since then? It’s been patchwork progress. Indiana went 2–2 in the four games leading up to Tuesday, and sure, back-to-back wins over the Mystics and Sky helped the vibes. But that spark? It’s flickering, not flaming.
Especially after they lost Tuesday’s game to the Dream 77-58.
And that brings us right back to the noise—the kind that comes from someone not shooting. Dewanna Bonner’s too quiet. Mitchell’s trying to do too much. And with Clark sidelined, Indiana’s looking for answers in all the wrong places.
The silence is speaking. The Fever can’t afford to ignore it any longer.
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