The Indiana Fever have been hit hard by injuries in their backcourt. Point guard Sydney Colson suffered a torn left ACL, and Aari McDonald broke a bone in her right foot during a recent game—both now ruled out for the remainder of the season. Compounding matters, star rookie Caitlin Clark has been sidelined for 10 straight games due to a persistent right groin injury. These losses left the Fever with just nine active players and no true point guard to run the offense.
Under WNBA rules, teams must be without an injured player for at least one game before becoming eligible for a hardship signing. After playing short-handed in their 92–70 win over the Chicago Sky, the Fever qualified and wasted no time bolstering their roster.
Veteran Presence: Odyssey Sims Steps In
On Sunday, August 10, 2025, the Fever announced the signing of 33-year-old guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract. Sims brings a wealth of experience—she’s played in over 300 WNBA games across eleven-plus seasons, with career averages of 11.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Sims was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft, selected by the Tulsa Shock (now Dallas Wings). Her long career has taken her through many teams: Tulsa, the Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, and Connecticut Sun. Her most recent stint before joining Indiana was with the Sparks, where she averaged 9.8 points and 3.5 assists in 12 games before being waived in early July.
What Sims Brings to the Fever
With Clark, Colson, and McDonald all unavailable, Indiana’s backcourt was depleted. Sims offers immediate relief and stability at the point guard position. Her All-Star pedigree—selected in 2019 while with the Lynx when she averaged 14.5 points and 5.4 assists—adds leadership to a team under duress.
Her experience running offenses and scoring in pressure situations will be critical as the Fever navigate the stretch run toward the playoffs, carrying an 18–14 record and sitting solidly in fifth place.
Contract Rules and Season Implications
The hardship contract Sims signed will last seven days. The Fever may re-sign her to additional seven-day hardship deals, but a player can only sign up to three hardship contracts with the same team in a season—and the contract cannot extend into the playoffs.
For a team already showing resilience amid adversity, Sims’ addition is both a short-term fix and a tactical boost. However, the temporary nature of the deal means Indiana must continue to monitor player returns, including that of Caitlin Clark, and consider longer-term solutions if they hope to make a deeper postseason run.
Team Outlook: Stabilizing the Rotation
- Immediate impact: With point guard depth depleted, Sims provides veteran poise and playmaking at a critical time.
- Injury domino: As Clark, Colson, and McDonald remain out, Sims may see significant minutes even if the others return late.
- Roster flexibility: The seven-day window gives the Fever breathing space to evaluate whether Sims should be retained short term or whether another strategic signing is needed.
- Playoff push: At 18–14 and in playoff position, stabilizing the guard spot is crucial for maintaining momentum and execution down the stretch.
In Summary
- What happened: Indiana signed veteran guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract on August 10, 2025.
- Why: The team was left with only nine available players and no point guards, following season-ending injuries to Colson and McDonald and the continued absence of Caitlin Clark.
- Sims’ profile: A seasoned WNBA All-Star and high draft pick, she brings experience, scoring and distribution to a team in need.
- Contract parameters: Initial seven-day deal, with up to three allowable hardship contracts per player per season; cannot extend into playoffs.
- Strategic value: Provides much-needed depth and leadership during a critical period of the Fever’s campaign.
