The Indiana Fever announced plans to sign a player on a hardship contract in response to injuries affecting key team members, including Caitlin Clark, team president Kelly Krauskopf revealed Sunday. The move aims to bolster the roster as the Fever cope with several absences.
Clark is sidelined with a left quad strain, while Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham both exited Friday’s narrow 85-83 loss to the Connecticut Sun due to injuries. This has significantly reduced the Fever’s active player pool, prompting urgent action.
Team Leaders Outline Desired Position and Player Traits
Head coach Stephanie White described the type of player Indiana hopes to add through the hardship signing. She emphasized the need for someone capable of contributing on both offense and defense, particularly at the guard position, which has been hit hardest by injuries.
I think best player available at that position who can add value on both ends of the floor,
White told reporters.
Certainly we need to have someone who can add value on the defensive end. We gotta have somebody who can help us navigate and get into offense, handle the ball. Since we’re down to what, two healthy guards? The goal would be to get everybody back to their natural positions if we can.
—Stephanie White, Head Coach
Krauskopf also highlighted the challenges posed by the WNBA’s small roster sizes, which make any injury impactful.
You have an 11-player roster and you lose three players like that, now you’ve got to add a quick player to your roster,
she explained.
So, it’s something that you just deal with being in this league.
—Kelly Krauskopf, Team President
Impact of Caitlin Clark’s Injury on Team Performance
Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, began the season strongly with averages of 19.0 points, 9.3 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game across her first four appearances. Her shooting splits were 40.3% from the field, 31.4% from three-point range, and 75.0% from the free-throw line.
Since Clark’s injury, the Fever’s scoring has dropped to 80.0 points per game in two contests, compared to their previous 88.0 points average. The team‘s struggles have coincided with a three-game losing streak that places them ninth in the WNBA standings with a 2-4 record.
Team’s Immediate Outlook and Next Steps
With Clark still recovering and additional injuries to Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham impacting lineup stability, the Fever are working urgently to reinforce their roster. Krauskopf expressed hope that the signing could be completed before the upcoming Tuesday game, aiming to restore healthier rotation and team balance.
As the Fever attempt to overcome these setbacks, their success in acquiring a fitting replacement could prove critical to regaining competitiveness in the early part of the season.