Indiana Fever Signs Former WNBA All-Star Odyssey Sims Amid Injury Crisis – Caitlin Clark’s Return Still a Mystery

In a move that shocked fans and raised eyebrows across the league, the Indiana Fever announced Sunday they’ve signed veteran guard Odyssey Sims, a former WNBA All-Star, to bolster their depleted backcourt. The signing comes amid a wave of devastating injuries to the team’s core, including the uncertain status of superstar rookie Caitlin Clark, whose absence is beginning to cast a shadow over the Fever’s playoff hopes.

The Fever, currently holding the fifth-best record in the WNBA (18-14), are in survival mode. With multiple guards out for the season, they’re betting big on the 33-year-old Sims to stabilize the offense — at least until there’s more clarity on when, or if, Clark will return this year.

Injury Woes Hit Indiana Hard

It’s no exaggeration to say the Fever have been decimated by injuries. Earlier this week, the team confirmed that Aari McDonald (fractured foot) and Sydney Colson (torn ACL) will both be out for the remainder of the 2025 season. That news alone would’ve been crushing — but it was just the beginning.

Caitlin Clark, the face of the franchise and arguably the entire league, hasn’t played since July 15th, when she helped lead the Fever to an 85-77 win over the Connecticut Sun. Since then, she’s been sidelined with a lingering groin injury, and there’s still no official timeline for her return.

The lack of updates has frustrated fans and fueled online speculation. With each game she misses, questions grow louder:

Is Clark’s injury worse than the team is letting on?

Why hasn’t she been seen at practice?

Is her rookie season in jeopardy?

For a league that’s riding high on a wave of mainstream attention, the silence surrounding Clark’s condition is becoming more deafening by the day.

Who Is Odyssey Sims?

While the situation around Clark remains murky, one thing is clear: the Fever needed help — fast. And they found it in Odyssey Sims, a player with a long and respected track record in the league.

Sims was named a WNBA All-Star and made the All-WNBA Second Team in 2019 while playing for the Minnesota Lynx, where she averaged 14.5 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. Known for her gritty defense, leadership, and scoring ability, she’s played for multiple teams, including the Sparks, Wings, and Dream.

In 2025, she started the season with the Los Angeles Sparks, appearing in 12 games and averaging 9.8 points per game before being waived. Now, she gets a chance to prove she still belongs — and to do it on one of the most-watched teams in the league.

With Indiana’s backcourt in shambles, Sims could immediately step into a major role. She brings experience, poise, and toughness — all things the Fever desperately need as they try to keep their playoff push alive without their biggest star.

Where Is Caitlin Clark? The Question Everyone’s Asking

There’s no sugarcoating it: the absence of Caitlin Clark is starting to feel ominous.

After becoming a national sensation at Iowa, shattering scoring records and single-handedly boosting WNBA viewership numbers, Clark arrived in Indiana with massive expectations. And for the most part, she delivered — dazzling with deep threes, flashy assists, and electric energy.

But now, the spotlight has turned into a magnifying glass, and fans are starting to worry. Since her injury, there’s been no concrete update from the team, and Clark herself has remained silent on social media.

During a recent press conference, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert declined to comment on the specifics of Clark’s status, calling it an “internal team matter.” That only added fuel to the fire, with some fans speculating that the situation might be more serious — or even that Clark could be shut down for the remainder of the season.

For now, all we know is this: she hasn’t played in nearly a month, there’s no return date in sight, and Indiana’s hopes are hanging in the balance.

Can Sims Deliver?

While Odyssey Sims is no stranger to big moments, this might be the biggest stage she’s stepped onto in years — not just because of the media attention, but because of what’s at stake.

Indiana Fever are currently sitting just 1.5 games behind the fourth-place Phoenix Mercury, with the playoffs looming and momentum slipping. Sims doesn’t need to replicate Clark’s superstar-level production, but she does need to organize the offense, make smart plays, and provide leadership on and off the court.

And while the signing may have been made out of desperation, it could turn out to be a savvy move. Sims has shown throughout her career that she can rise to the occasion. Whether she can do it with limited preparation and sky-high expectations is the real test.

What’s Next for Indiana?

The Fever return to action on Tuesday night (August 13) at 7:30 PM EST, when they host the Dallas Wings. All eyes will be on Odyssey Sims — and on the bench, where fans will no doubt be scanning for any sign of Caitlin Clark.

With a top-five record in the league, Indiana is still very much in the playoff picture. But every game without Clark adds pressure, both to the coaching staff and the players who remain.

The good news? The Fever still have weapons. NaLyssa Smith, Aliyah Boston, and now Odyssey Sims give the team enough firepower to stay competitive. But make no mistake — this team was built around Clark, and without her, the ceiling lowers significantly.

Final Thoughts: A Team in Limbo

The Indiana Fever find themselves in a strange place: talented but uncertain, competitive but vulnerable, hopeful but haunted by a growing list of injuries.

Odyssey Sims might be the short-term answer. She might even turn out to be a long-term solution. But for now, her arrival is more about survival than strategy.

As for Caitlin Clark, her return remains the biggest question in the WNBA. And until it’s answered, the Fever — and the league — will continue to hold their breath