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BELGRADE, SERBIA – FEBRUARY 09: Temi Fagbenle of Great Britain in action during the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020 Group B match between Great Britain and Spain at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on February 9, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
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BELGRADE, SERBIA – FEBRUARY 09: Temi Fagbenle of Great Britain in action during the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020 Group B match between Great Britain and Spain at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on February 9, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
Ever since returning from a month-long WNBA Olympic break, the Indiana Fever have been more dominant than ever. Plenty time for recovery also had the team post a clean slate for the last two games. However, the streak is to end with Temi Fagbenle missing tonight’s game versus the Los Angeles Sparks.
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On August 5th, Chloe Peterson took to her official X account to share a core update from the Indiana Fever. According to her, the 35th overall pick from the 2017 draft has been ruled out of today’s game due to a right shoulder injury, as confirmed by the head coach herself. It all started with Fagbenle hurting her shoulder during a putback just before halftime against the Dallas Wings. However, it is expected to cost her just one game, hinting at no seriousness.
Christie Sides confirms Temi Fagbenle hurt her shoulder in the putback right before halftime in Dallas, but it’s more precautionary.
She won’t play tonight.
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) September 4, 2024
Regardless, the injury is more frustrating than it seems, especially for Fagbenle. She joined the Fever’s roster earlier this season, hoping to make a potential return from a four-year WNBA break, but things have not gone well for her.
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She has been plagued by injuries one after another. Initially, she suffered a foot injury on May 28th that caused her to miss out on June’s matchups. After a long healing process, she finally returned for the June 27th game against the Seattle Storm. But her happiness was short-lived, as just three games later, she was sidelined again, this time due to a thumb injury.
So far, she has missed the remainder of July and two games in August. And this streak continues as she endures yet another injury. The game versus the Dallas Wings might have left a painful mark on Fagbenle, but it turned out to be favorable for Christie Sides.
Bittersweet moment for the Fever
After an Indiana Fever rookie claimed her second win for the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, Christie Sides will be receiving an honor never before won by her or the franchise. It all came during her second year of coaching the Fever. The news came out after the team hit .500 on September 2nd in a game versus the Dallas Wings — their first in 8 years.
It’s a moment of dual celebration for Sides. While her team, for the first time since 2016, secured a playoff berth with two weeks remaining, she also earned the WNBA Coach of the Month title for August. The triumph was marked by the collaborative efforts of the team. But it’s not unreasonable to think this is merely an aftereffect of Clark’s impact.
In Christie Sides’ first year as head coach, the Indiana Fever reached a 13-27 record last season. With Caitlin Clark picked as the No. 1 overall draft pick earlier this season, the Fever are on their way to breaking their nearly decade-long curse. For the first time since 2015, the team is poised for the franchise’s first winning record. But will Indiana Fever be able to ride on it?
Written by
Edited by
Shivatmika Manvi