Fever HC finds silver lining of Caitlin Clark's injury absence

In the early weeks of the 2025 season, the Indiana Fever were hit with some gut-punching news. Now facing a major roadblock, one key member of the franchise has managed to turn a negative situation into a positive one.

Heading into this season, Caitlin Clark was one player WNBA fans were anxiously waiting to see in action. This excitement ended up being short-lived, as the star guard currently finds herself on the sidelines. The Fever announced on Monday that Clark suffered a strained quad that will have her out for at least two weeks.

Following practice on Tuesday, Fever head coach Stephanie White was asked about the road ahead without Clark. She found a silver lining with it, stating that this gives the group an opportunity to grow in different ways and test out some new styles. 

“We got a real opportunity to grow here, playing with different lead guards,” White said, “playing in different actions, seeing what all of our off-ball stuff can look like.”

While no team ever wants to be without their star player, this stretch could end up being good for Indiana. Clark might be a budding superstar, but at the end of the day, she is only one person. If Indiana is going to achieve its goals, it'll need more than just her to step up. With that in mind, finding ways to win without her in the lineup has a chance to help propel this group into becoming a legitimate contender. 

The Fever had their first game without Clark this season on Wednesday night, and it did not go their way. Though it was a competitive matchup, Indiana was handed an 83-77 loss against the Washington Mystics.

Seeing that the roster has been built to thrive around Clark, there's no denying the Fever has a big void to fill. That said, the new-look roster has a chance to find out new things about themselves in the early stages of the season. 

The Fever cannot become overly reliant on Clark if they're ever going to contend, which is why stretches like this could help the group reach its full potential.