Injury-Riddled Fever Could Seek Hardship Help After Clark, Colson, Cunningham Go Down

With Clark expected to be sidelined for at least another week, and now uncertainty around Colson and Cunningham’s recoveries, Indiana’s depth at the guard position has hit a critical low—with only eight currently healthy players remaining on the roster. If Colson and Cunningham are ruled out for an extended stretch, the Fever will become eligible to apply for an emergency hardship contract—a short-term roster exemption that could allow the team to sign additional help.

According to HerHoopStats–at the discretion of the league-a team is allowed to sign as many players as needed to fill a ten player roster under an emergency hardship contract. Once approved by the league, the team can sign a replacement player—often a veteran free agent or standout from training camp. Then as the injured players return to play, the team must terminate those replacement contracts to remain at ten players until at least ten non-replacement players are available. 

In Indiana’s case, with three players now potentially sidelined, the team appears likely to land within the parameters of the WNBA’s eligibility. Without a strong ball-handler, coach Stephanie White and the front office could decide to to fortify the backcourt with a stopgap at point guard to help steady the playmaking duties while Clark and others recover.

The Fever could consider calling up a free agent familiar with orchestrating an offense or even look to recent draftees who were cut in training camp but showed promise.

But, the clock is ticking—with Indiana scheduled to take the court Tuesday to run it back with the Washington Mystics—an emergency hardship contract may be the only option left to fill the current roster gaps.

Whether or not Indiana is allowed to make a move is dependent on the medical status of Colson and Cunningham. But for now, the injury bug has officially hit Indianapolis, so the Fever need to plan accordingly.