When the Indiana Fever lost Caitlin Clark with four games ahead of them, everyone thought it was not going to be a problem. After the loss to Liberty, the Fever was approaching what many called a “soft spot” in the schedule. It made sense then, considering that they looked better on paper than the teams they were about to play. Mystics, the Sun, and the Sky—all three of them are in a deeper stage of rebuilding than Indiana. While challenges were expected, they were in a position to at least make it 2-2 for that stretch. What’s happened, though, isn’t really carrying that hope forward.

A team that began the season with championship ambitions now finds itself sitting 8th in the standings. To make matters worse, the Fever recently had two more injured guards and handed the previously winless Connecticut Sun their first victory of the season. So, they have already lost two of those four games, making up an unexpected 2-4 start. Right now, the Fever don’t look like a team built for a deep playoff run. However, one ESPN analyst still cannot be convinced of their apparent woes.

Yes, it is not like without Clark, the core of Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, and proven veterans like DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, should collapse. But, as Rachel DeMita hinted, it is Clark who brings the bread and butter for this team. Appearing on Sports Center, she said, “I am sure the Fever fans were expecting a very different start, but they should not be worried—I don’t think at all. Remember, two of the three that they lost were with Caitlin Clark, and it was by a combined three points. One of those games was to the New York Liberty”.

Lobo summed up what’s becoming clearer by the game: this team is still learning to walk without the star they were built to run with. After all, before being benched with a left quad strain, Clark was averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds, and a league-best 9.3 assists. Without her, it’s no shocker that the Fever look a bit like someone trying to assemble furniture without the manual. “When she’s not playing, it’s going to look difficult. She is one of the best players in women’s basketball. The players are learning how to play right now, not only with one another but now without Caitlin Clark,” she further said.

Well, Lobo’s words hold true for Aliyah Boston the most. Nineteen of her 31 made shots through the first four games came off assists from Caitlin Clark. While Boston continues to impress, her output has dipped slightly without Clark. She’s now averaging 13.2 points in the two games without Clark, down from 18.5 when Clark was on the floor. Everyone is learning how to play without her, and as Lobo highlights, that’s never an easy task but “could help some of the supplemental pieces grow a little bit in Caitlin Clark’s absence“.

But, maybe, they actually might end up winning the next two games. They have not one but two silver linings. The team has recently signed Aari McDonald to a harship contract and she is expected to start logging good minutes immediately. “She is a true point guard, so she brings that energy, she brings the ability to dictate,” White said, brimming with hope. “And she has been really good so far.” Meanwhile, after much anticipation, one guard has been cleared to play.

Stephanie White provides an update on Caitlin Clark’s teammates

Against the Sun, Sydney Colson went down with a leg injury, while Sophie Cunningham re-aggravated the ankle issue she’s been dealing with since the preseason. It’s been far from ideal for the Indiana Fever, especially with Caitlin Clark expected to miss at least two more games before a decision is made on her status on June 9. That said, head coach Stephanie White did offer an update on the injury status of both guards.

“We got good news from both of their MRIs, as good of news as you can get,” White said. “So right now, it’s a day-to-day thing. We’re looking forward to, hopefully, them returning at some point sooner rather than later. But at the same time, it’s how each of them progresses in their rehab and in their return to the court action.”

However, Sydney Colson, seemed to be recovering quickly than Cunningham. “Syd’s been progressing really quickly,” White continued. “She’s going to get out there and get some shots up too, so we’ll see where she sits when she comes back after her recovery from today, make sure we don’t have any setbacks, and then we’ll see where she is tomorrow.”

Colson has since returned to team training on Monday and will be available for the game against the Mystics. With the addition of Aari McDonald to help navigate the ongoing injury crisis, it’ll be interesting to see how the Fever respond. Stay tuned for more updates!