Odyssey Sims Reveals Fever Locker Room Secret Fueling Playoff Push That Quietly Benefits Caitlin Clark

Odyssey Sims never thought she’d be wearing an Indiana Fever jersey at the start of this season. Yet here she is, thriving in a role that has quickly grown in importance. The veteran guard has earned her way into the starting lineup, proving her value night after night. Outside of the Minnesota matchups, Sims has hit double figures whenever she’s logged more than 20 minutes, a clear sign of how vital she’s become, especially with Caitlin Clark sidelined.

Fever head coach Stephanie White could not be prouder about bringing in Sims, as she called her “All things that we need, and she’ll be a great addition.” And so far, Sims has been just that. Her recent 22-point, 6-assist performance is the latest example of her impact. As for how she feels about this new chapter in Indiana, the veteran guard recently opened up and shared her thoughts with playoff hopes in sight.

One thing Sims stressed was the positive team environment. “I’m with a good group, from the coaching staff to the ownership to my teammates. Everybody is so genuine. Everybody pours into each other more than I’ve ever seen on any other team I’ve ever been on. And that speaks volumes.” According to the veteran guard, this positive culture shifts the focus from individual glory to belonging in the team.

That belonging helps them in crucial moments, when you have to trust your teammates. Talking about the Sparks games, she said, “For situations like this, it’s not really about, ‘Oh, I want to shoot the last shot. Oh, we’ve got to get the ball here.’ It’s about making plays like the coach told us earlier today. And at the end of the day, when play breaks down or you have to make something happen, you just make it happen.”

And Sims did make it happen, thanks to the support of her team. In the absence of Caitlin Clark, Fever once looked like they would lose this game. With one minute left on the clock, Indiana was down 71-74. But thanks to the assistance of Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, Odyssey Sims scored five points to carry her team ahead. With the final whistle, Fever had won, 76-75. “I’m excited. I’m just happy that we got this win tonight,” Sims said.

Odyssey Sims’ clutch performance in this win not only lifts the Fever but also directly benefits Caitlin Clark. As WNBA analyst Robin Lundberg put it, “Fever essentially cemented the playoffs and bought Caitlin Clark more time.” Right now, Indiana sits sixth in the standings with a 21-18 record and five games left in the regular season. Realistically, the Fever need at least one more victory to reach a .500 PCT and strengthen their playoff position. The encouraging part for Indiana is that Clark is already showing progress, a positive sign as they push toward the postseason.

Fever coach shares progress report on Caitlin Clark’s return

The LA Sparks matchup marked the seventeenth game Indiana played without their star guard. Now, with only five games left in the regular season and the postseason drawing near, the Fever need Caitlin Clark back if they are to keep their championship dreams alive. Some will point out that Indiana managed to beat Minnesota in the Commissioner’s Cup final, but this is not the same roster. Key players like Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald are all missing, leaving the Fever thinner than they were in that title run.

There is, however, some good news for fans. Clark has begun ramping up her activity with the team as she works toward a return. Head coach Stephanie White shared that Clark took part in a walk-through as part of her return process. “She went through it. I want to see her in practice. Live in practice. I want to see her continue to work to not just build endurance, but to be able to handle contact [for] 94 feet as it’s going to be in-game, and to be able to do that and sustain from an endurance standpoint,” said White.

White made clear that Clark will need to get through multiple practices before she sees game action again. She has already missed 24 games this year with muscle injuries. In her 13 appearances, she has averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. Away from the court, Clark is making waves by launching her own brand in partnership with Nike. Yet for Fever fans, the biggest thing they’re waiting on is her return to the hardwood.