People underestimated how much Caitlin Clark did for the Indiana Fever. Her absence rippled far beyond the point guard spot, forcing Stephanie White to adjust without her top shooter, primary playmaker, and leading scorer. White now had to resort to either a conventional guard who had played very few minutes till that point or someone who is not a point guard but is a more well-rounded player.

The head coach decided to go with the experienced guard Sydney Colson over the flexible Sophie Cunningham, who could be more effective going forward. With that choice, she added some responsibility on Aaliyah Boston to be a better scorer. This analyst has broken down this choice and how Aaliyah Boston’s effectiveness has changed since the Clark injury

Rosalina Lee said on her Youtube Channel, “Indiana Fever kind of let go of getting Aaliyah Boston touches in a couple of the games with Caitlin Clark out but I think—again, I mentioned this before—that they did; they got Aaliyah Boston touches in the Connecticut game but they like sacrificed their three-point shot.”

In the first game without Clark against the Washington Mystics, Boston took just five shots and did not attempt a three-pointer, which was the lowest in the starting lineup, which is contrasting to when Clark was there. In the game against the New York Liberty , she had 19 shots, making 12, which was the most on the team against the best defense in the league. 

That Liberty game showed what Boston can do when she’s the focal point, but the Mystics game felt like a missed opportunity, with the offense looking lost without a clear plan.

Even though they lost both games, their performance against the Liberty was so much better. She did get involved more against the Sun with 10 shots at an 80% efficiency. She is still figuring out her role on the team with Clark out.  Lee further analyzed White’s decision to prefer Colson over Cunningham.

She said, “Because Sid Colson, you know, she was the starting point guard. She cannot shoot threes. Like she does not have, she does not shoot them at a high clip. Now Sophie Cunningham can make threes but she did not sink any threes in the game before. but she did not sink any threes in the game before. Even though she can sink them, she ended up going out with an injury in the last game.”

White had a choice to make. Colson has averaged 31.7 from beyond the arc throughout her career as opposed to 36.3 for Cunningham, despite attempting 3.8 per game as opposed to 0.8 from Colson. So she is clearly the more accomplished shooter. Colson is the more traditional point guard carrying the ball and controlling the play. Both are now out with injuries but White prefers players in more traditional roles rather than consolidating the numbers lost  in various metrics.

This choice raised eyebrows, as Cunningham’s shooting could’ve stretched the floor, giving Boston more space to work in the paint, a dynamic Clark created effortlessly.

She further explained the problem that they have, as none of their current players are accomplished shooters in form. Mitchell was supposed to be the supporting outside shooter to Clark but she has been in terrible form while enraging the fans with her gameplay. She has shot 38.7 off the field while shooting a miserly 29% from beyond the arc. She has been the major disappointment for the fans. Lee also mentioned Lexie Hull, who needs to take more threes.

She said, “Lexie Hull just needs to take more threes. She’s been doing a great job, Like, I really love her performance this season. She has been such a bright spot in some of the darkness that the Indiana Fever are treading through right now.”

Lexie Hull has undeniably exceeded expectations this season, bringing a surge of energy every time she steps on the court. She previously averaged under 6 points per game and is now contributing 10.2 points per game, which is a significant improvement. Her three-point shooting has been especially impressive, with 57.1 percent of her attempts going in, the best percentage on the team. Although she only takes 2.3 three-point shots per game, her efficiency suggests that increasing that number could make her an even more dangerous threat from the perimeter. Hull could be the solution White is looking for. 

Aari McDonald’s addition raises questions about Sydney Colson’s long-term spot

Veteran guard Aari McDonald signed an emergency hardship exception contract with the Indiana Fever on June 2, thus making her a member of the roster while the team is waiting for three guards to get healthy. McDonald brings in four years of experience in the WNBA while averaging 8.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in her limited time on the court. 

Lee also revealed this possibility as she said, “She is going to want to prove herself playing for the Indiana Fever. And I don’t know, like, I mean, this is just the way the game goes but she’s probably going to be gunning for Sid’s spot. And you know, Sid, it’s been difficult to watch Sid in games. Like, I don’t exactly understand why she was in the Washington Mystics game for so many minutes. But in the first few minutes of the Connecticut Sun game, I wasn’t like, I was happy with what Sid was doing.”

Colson struggled to make an impact in her lone game replacing Caitlin Clark, scoring just 4 points on 2-of-7 shooting with 3 assists against the Mystics. While not disastrous, the performance highlighted her offensive limitations. Over her career, she has averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 assists per game, reflecting her role as more of a steady, defense-oriented presence than a scoring or playmaking threat.

In comparison, Aari McDonald has shown stronger numbers and a more dynamic style. She’s quicker, more aggressive off the dribble, and better suited for Indiana’s up-tempo system. While Colson offers leadership and experience, her production hasn’t scaled with responsibility. McDonald now has a real opportunity to earn a more permanent spot as the team assesses its depth and salary cap options.

McDonald brings an added sense of urgency, having received this opportunity unexpectedly and being younger than Colson plays to her advantage. How well she adapts to the system in a short span will be key. If she makes a strong impression during this stint, she could potentially take over Colson’s spot.  Her prior experience also makes her a valuable asset, which is why management may explore keeping her as the 12th player on the roster, depending on salary cap flexibility. However, the team is likely to seek a longer-term solution for that role heading into next season.

The Fever are learning just how much Clark held their system together and how shaky things get without her. White currently has no choice but to play McDonald at point guard so she has her stage and now its upto her to impress. With McDonald at point, Aliyah will hopefully get more shots in and will resume the form she had earlier in the season. Colson will likely be back sooner than Cunningham, and she will want to prove her worth as McDonald is ready to pounce on her backup point guard spot.