Indiana was forced to make some locker room changes, and they bet on a veteran. The already crippled Fever guard rotation took a hit when a showdown in Phoenix knocked out both Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald. “I was just broken-hearted for them,” Stephanie White expressed. But, as she admits, the show must go on. The Fever games are now played to honor their fallen, and Odyssey Sims is to adorn the sentiment soon. However, even a veteran can shake in front of immense pressure.

With Caitlin Clark still on the bench, the Fever were in desperate need of a point guard. The fans’ choice was loud and clear: 11-year veteran, Odyssey Sims. Seems like the front office shared the same thought. “Her ability to get downhill, to make plays for herself and others, to knock down shots. Her speed and quickness with the ball in her hand– all things that we need,” Coach White explained. But Sims last suited up on June 29 for the LA Sparks before being waived. Now, she is making a nervous return against Dallas.

The Baylor alumna won’t only be returning to the court after a month off of it, but she will be doing so in front of a huge crowd. The veteran point guard, thus, made an honest admission during practice on the Fever’s home court.

“I know Indiana has some great fans, some of the best fans in the W. So I’m a little nervous just because it’s going to be a lot of people,” Sims stated with a nervous smile.

The Fever currently boast the second-best attendance record in the league after Golden State, with an average of 16,800. But that’s just at home. In their away games, the Fever surpass the second-best by an average of 5 thousand. When you saw the TD Garden covered in Fever red and Crypto. com swarming with Indiana blue — prompting a reporter to ask Kelsey Plum what it was like playing before a visiting crowd so huge — it’s no surprise their road game-attendance is at league-leading 16,700.

It isn’t all fun and games with that attention. Kelsey Mitchell knows what it’s like living under the microscope– the pressure to meet expectations, to show up every night, it is gruelling. So we get Sims’ sentiment. But it is a game they love, and being on the court at the end of the day is all that accounts for.

“I’m excited to play, actually put a jersey on, and be around my teammates. It was my first day [today], and it was great. Looking forward to many more great days,” Sims added. She will be donning the number #1 jersey for Fever on court against the Wings.

Her arrival becomes even more crucial as the Fever head coach offers no hint of Caitlin Clark’s return.

Stephanie White gives an uncertain update on Caitlin Clark’s injury

With the regular season nearing its completion, it’s still disappointment in CC camp. The 2024 Rookie of the Year has now been sidelined for ten straight games due to injury. What’s the response from Indiana? No deadline set for her return. This unfortunate news was broken by the Fever head coach Stephanie White during practice against Dallas.

Clark has shown signs of improvement and was conducting full-court sprints last week. However, the Fever management is taking no chances with her injuries right now. When asked about return to practice with the team, White stated ,“No return to practice” for Clark. “She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with her body weight. It’s been building up from minimal to some endurance. She’s been able to do a little bit more on court in terms of how she moves, but not in [team] practice yet,” White added.

It appears fans will have to wait a bit longer to see her back in action. Though ESPN initially predicted her return for August 12 against Dallas, it is highly unlikely we will see her then or on 15th against Washington. For now, a swift recovery, is all we can hope for.