As Indiana inches its way to the playoffs, you have to admit that the real MVP of this season has been the front office. Still, Kelly Krauskopf and Amber Cox have done a fantastic job in dealing with injuries, drama, and bad luck while maintaining a winning team this year. Their biggest issue? Trying to make up for Caitlin Clark’s absence and all the backcourt injuries they’ve suffered this year. After all, as Stephanie White said, “It takes a lot out of you when you lose players — mentally and emotionally — especially with the way that it happened“. However, nearly all the injury replacements have been absolutely perfect in doing what’s expected of them.

The latest in the line is Odyssey Sims, a WNBA veteran whom Indiana brought in because of dwindling backcourt numbers. She had the slowest start imaginable – dropping 0 points in your team debut is hard on anyone, even a vet – but Sims slowly started to show why she was brought in. She dropped 19 against the Sun in an OT thriller, and today? The five-foot-nine guard lit up Gainbridge Fieldhouse with 22 points, conjuring up a win against Seattle.

A defining moment in tonight’s game was when Odyssey Sims banked in a logo three, midway through the fourth. Later, the guard admitted, “I ran back like I knew it was gonna happen, but I didn’t.” But when she hit that three, the entire stadium was roaring on its feet. Caitlin Clark couldn’t have sat down even if she was forced to! The smile on the Indiana Fever star’s face was electric as she cheered on Sims.

Going from team to team isn’t easy by any means. And joining in the middle of the season because of injury? That’s probably the toughest job imaginable. Sims, as a decorated vet, still approached this season with an amazing mindset. “Just giving myself grace coming into a new team,” she said just a few days ago, and that grace has paid off. With this game, as per FeverStats, Odyssey Sims became the 2nd fastest player to reach 50+ PTS & 25+ AST with the Fever (She’s been with them for merely 16 days). And only Caitlin Clark did it faster.

After the win against Seattle, reporters asked Odyssey Sims how she’s fitting in with Indiana. “I’m just taking it day-by-day.” The guard said. “[It was] a slower start than normal, but I’m surrounded by some really great players. They’re great teammates. So just continuing to learn, just defensively, and offensively, just wanting to stay aggressive and just do the little things.” Her goals for the immediate future? “Continue to be an energy player, and try my best to just do the best I can… Continue to get some wins.”

Even Indiana HC Stephanie White had nothing but praise for the Fever’s injury replacement and her fantastic performance.

Indiana Fever HC has strong praise for Odyssey Sims

Odyssey Sims is not the modern-day guard, not exactly. Take a look at her highlights and tell me what you see. Spoiler alert, it’s not gonna be the 3&D play you’re used to. There’s just something about Sims game, something so fundamental and rhythmic that it becomes exciting to watch. The five-foot-nine guard doesn’t focus on shooting the long ball; she wants to finish around the rim, find an open person, or rise up for her J.

In doing so, she creates space for the shooters on her team. People nowadays, for some weird reason, think that having a three-ball is the only way to create space. But when Odyssey Sims drives into the paint with purpose, the bigs start coming inside to help, suddenly freeing up a teammate to shoot or for a drop pass.

Even Fever head coach Stephanie White praised the way Sims creates opportunities for her teammates while being aggressive on offense. “Her gift is her ability to get to the rim,” The Indiana Fever coach said postgame. “It’s the ability to get downhill. She was aggressive and she made the right reads. When she needed to see the collapse and pass it off, she did. When she had the advantage, she went to the rim. I just thought she played a really good pace, and I thought she played aggressive offensively, and it’s exactly what we need.”

So far, Odyssey Sims has recovered very well from her starting streak of bad luck with the Fever. She’s averaging over 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, and every time she’s on the court, Indiana is better. We can’t wait to see how Sims progresses and evolves with the team in the days to come. Hopefully, we see her in the playoffs, balling her heart out for the Fever!