The Fever met with another tragedy on Sunday. With just over eight minutes left in the second quarter, Sun guard Bria Hartley drove to the rim. She collided with Kelsey Mitchell and went crashing to the floor. On her way down, she slammed into Sophie Cunningham’s right knee. Cunningham collapsed, and head coach Stephanie White rushed in alongside the medical staff. But for the Fever’s enforcer, the night was over.

Still, all hope was not lost. “You just really have to care about the people you play with, and it fuels who we are as people,” said Kelsey Mitchell after her 38-point explosion led Indiana to a much-needed win. Rallying together, the depleted roster delivered a statement victory. While White praised her team’s resilience, one industry voice believes she owes some credit to an ex-Fever player.

That player is DeWanna Bonner. Insider Rachel DeMita addressed the issue on the latest episode of Courtside Club, stating, “I feel like the media or other players have said that the Fever have locker room issues. And we even heard that last season. It seems like this core group, since DeWanna Bonner has departed and is no longer with the team, it seems like this group has really come together, and whether they are winning or losing, they do have a sense of togetherness.”

With this statement, DeMita implies that the Fever roster has strung closer together following the departure of Bonner. The veteran forward was waived by Indiana on June 25, 2025. While she was on the team, the Fever went 6–7 and posted a net rating of minus-10.2 with her on the floor compared to plus-15.1 when she sat.

Bonner’s own performance dipped as well: 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists across nine games on a career-worst 34.5% shooting. After her exit, Indiana’s core rallied for a 13–9 run. Now, however, that same core is once again in jeopardy.

Stephanie White and Fever Face a Chance of Missing the Playoffs

DeMita framed the matchup against Connecticut as a defining moment. “It is a must-win game because the Indiana Fever are still on the cusp of the playoffs. There is still a chance that they don’t even make the playoffs if they don’t win some of the games that they absolutely need to win. And this game was one of them,” she said.

At 19–16, the Fever hold sixth place in the standings. With ten games left, they must secure a majority of wins to lock in a strong postseason position. But the loss of Cunningham only deepens the challenge. The team is already without three other core players: Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson. McDonald and Colson are sidelined for the season, while Clark remains a hopeful returnee before the end of the regular campaign.

In the meantime, Indiana leans on veterans Odyssey Sims and Chloe Bibby, along with rookie Kyra Lambert. However, the trio has an uphill battle with lineup changes and constant pressure on the court. How White manages this shorthanded group will decide whether the Fever’s playoff push turns into a breakthrough or another heartbreak.