Indiana Fever: Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald injured; Hardship free agent options
Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald were injured vs. Phoenix. Fever Insider Chloe Peterson and Brian Haenchen discuss where this leaves the Fever and explore hardship options.
PHOENIX – The Indiana Fever finished their road trip on a low note, falling to the Phoenix Mercury, 95-60, in a game riddled with Fever injuries.
Sophie Cunningham led the Fever with 18 points, while Kelsey Mitchell was the only other Fever player in double-digits with 12.
On Phoenix’s side, Alyssa Thomas got a WNBA-record third-straight triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Fever are now 17-14, and they will return to Indianapolis to play Chicago on Saturday.
Here are three observations:
Sydney Colson helped off court with left knee injury
The Fever suffered another blow to their point guard depth on Thursday night. Sydney Colson, who only played for one minute, left the game with a left knee injury in the first quarter of the Fever’s game against the Mercury in Phoenix, eventually being rule out.
Colson’s knee buckled as she landed on one foot while going for a rebound, then took a hard fall. She stayed down on the floor, looking to be in immense pain after the non-contact injury, and coach Steph White immediately called a timeout.
Colson was eventually helped off the floor by trainer Todd Champlin and teammate Bri Turner, putting no weight on her left leg. She stayed in the locker room for the remainder of the game.
Sophie Cunningham stars in return to former city
For the first time since she was traded from the Mercury to the Fever, Sophie Cunningham returned to her former city.
And she shined.
She sank four 3-pointers in the second quarter alone, multiple coming as she was wide open beyond the arc. She tapped into her emergency backup point guard duties as well, dishing the ball out to Makayla Timpson in the paint for a layup.
Cunningham did have an injury scare, too, going back to the locker room with a trainer with about a minute left in the first half. She didn’t warm up with the team after halftime or start the second half because of a left ankle injury. Cunningham suffered two right ankle injuries to start the season, and still wears a brace on that right ankle.
But Cunningham could still play — she exemplified that by checking into the game early in the third quarter and sinking back-to-back 3-pointers.
Cunningham finished the game with 18 points, the only Fever player to hit double digits, along with two rebounds and two assists.
Fever finish road trip 2-2 after debilitating loss
Whether it was because of the fatigue from an eight-day road trip or the fact there were multiple injuries on Thursday night, the Fever suffered their worst loss of the season in PHX Arena. It is also their second-straight loss after a five-game win streak.
The Fever couldn’t find a rhythm in their rematch against the Mercury, evidenced by them making just one field goal in the final six minutes of the third quarter.
Indiana was riddled by injuries too, starting with Colson’s in the first quarter. Natasha Howard left the game, yet stayed on the bench, after getting hit in the face in the third quarter, and she didn’t return. Aari McDonald came off the floor limping in the fourth quarter, heading to the locker room. She didn’t return, either.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.