Entering this season, Indiana was all set for the hottest 2024 pick in the league to break out of her rookie shell – mistakes and all. And there were some real mistakes. Caitlin Clark held the WNBA record for most turnovers in a rookie season (223). Indiana was hoping for a better situation this year, but instead, the “sophomore slump” hit hard. Clark alone accounted for nearly 40% of Indiana’s 12.9 turnovers per game. A recent example came from that 89-81 loss to the Aces. Her sloppy plays broke a 69-69 tie and led to two straight losses for the Fever. Now, this raises two important questions for the Fever.

Was Clark’s absence actually a blessing in disguise for the Fever? Or did the team simply lean so hard on her offensive firepower that they forgot how to function on their own? There’s no simple “yes” or “no” here. But one thing is certain, whether Caitlin’s on the court or not, this squad had to figure out how to win as a unit. That’s how you evolve into a real threat. Now, Clark’s time away with a right groin injury might’ve been just the unexpected reset the team needed – to regroup, recalibrate, and remember how to compete without leaning entirely on No. 22.

Thankfully, it looks like things are clicking. After grinding out a few tough wins, the Fever are starting to find their rhythm. Watch them now, and you’ll notice the ball zipping around with a new kind of purpose – smooth, confident, and collective. Even head coach Stephanie White might be quietly nodding in approval. Last night’s 78-74 win over Seattle marked the Fever franchise’s fifth straight victory. That’s their longest winning streak of the season. Actually, scratch that. It’s their longest since the Catchings era, with just one exception (Aug 27 to Sept 5, 2024). Still and all, it ties the longest win record for the franchise in the last decade.

Yep, no floor general. No ROTY frontrunner. No flamethrower from three. Just a team stepping up. White summed it up perfectly:
“While we don’t like it, sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise because everybody else finds themselves, right?” And she’s not wrong, it’s truly a blessing in disguise because it forced Indiana’s supporting cast to step up. Kelsey Mitchell, Aari McDonald, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, all of them, have seen their usage and confidence spike.

Just last night, Indiana (17-12) led by 9 with under just five minutes to play, only for Seattle (16-13) to storm back within one at the 2:14 mark. That’s when Kelsey Mitchell made a clutch midrange jumper to push the lead to three. Seattle missed six of its last seven shots, and Aliyah Boston made 2nd of her free throws with just 2 seconds left. Just like that, with collective effort, the Fever walked away with a win that said one thing loud and clear: even without Caitlin Clark, this team is playoff material. Even Sophie Cunningham gets that.

“I don’t think that it [Clark’s absence] affects us anymore,” she had earlier said. “We know how to play with her. If we don’t have Caitlin, great. We know how to play without her.” And play, they have. Earlier in the season, the Fever crumbled when opponents made late runs, regardless of how “winnable” the game looked on paper. June and July for them were plagued by blown second-half leads. A 13-point cushion against Golden State turned into an 11-point loss. A double-digit lead over Las Vegas? Gone. A 10-point fourth-quarter advantage over LA on June 26? Flipped into a 10-point defeat.

But that’s not the case anymore. Just look at the numbers:

Fever Record With & Without Caitlin Clark (as of August 3, 2025)

Although, is this permanent? Can the Indiana Fever Keep Winning Without Caitlin Clark? Have a look at our Fans’ Verdict.

Another ‘Blessing in Disguise’ in Caitlin Clark’s Absence

After Friday’s win over Dallas, Indiana had notched its fourth straight victory, but Kelsey Mitchell wasn’t exactly in the mood to pop the champagne. “Hats off to Dallas… but I think we took some time off,” she said. She was frustrated by what she saw as a winnable game nearly slipping through their fingers. Yet despite her dissatisfaction, even she couldn’t ignore one truth: something had shifted. And maybe, just maybe, it was the kind of shift that only comes when a star goes missing and it’s time for the others to shine.

Enter: Indiana’s real blessing in disguise. Aari McDonald wasn’t supposed to be here. Not like this. Not as the stand-in for a generational playmaker like Caitlin Clark, who’s missed 15+ games this season (including every one of the Fever’s current winning streak) due to a lingering groin injury. But McDonald’s arrival has done more than plug a hole; it’s rewired Indiana’s DNA.

“She is our blessing in disguise,” Mitchell said. “We always tell her that we appreciate her seriously, because our season was all over the place… It takes a lot for a pro to step up, be where her feet is, and fill in shoes that not a lot of people expect.” Since officially joining for the remainder of the season on June 25, Aari McDonald has given the Fever real structure. Her speed keeps the offense in gear. Her floor vision opens up fast breaks.