Indiana Fever bolster their backcourt by signing veteran point guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract, the team announced on Sunday.
The move comes as Indiana deals with a spate of injuries. Sydney Colson tore her left ACL in the first quarter of Thursday’s loss to the Phoenix Mercury, and Aari McDonald left the game in the fourth quarter with a right-foot fracture. In addition, Fever star Caitlin Clark has been out intermittently this season with a groin issue, having missed 19 of 32 games after a healthy rookie campaign.
Odyssey Sims, 33, brings more than a decade of WNBA experience. Most recently with the Los Angeles Sparks before being waived in July, Sims has played for six different WNBA teams. She was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Tulsa Shock (which later became the Dallas Wings) and was part of the Baylor squad that won the 2012 NCAA championship alongside Brittney Griner.
Under WNBA rules, the Fever could not sign players again until Sunday, which left Indiana to compete on Saturday against the Chicago Sky without a traditional point guard on the floor. Despite the depth being thin, the Fever handled the Sky 92-70. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 26 points, and the win improved their record to 18-14, placing them in fifth in the league.
Clark’s continued absence and the injuries mounting elsewhere cloud the club’s playoff chances, but the addition of Sims offers a potentially valuable veteran presence to help steady the rotation as Indiana navigates the remainder of the season.
Key takeaways:
– Odyssey Sims joins the Fever on a hardship contract to bolster point guard depth.
– Colson’s ACL injury and McDonald’s foot fracture, plus Clark’s groin issues, have strained Indiana’s backcourt.
– The Fever recently beat the Sky 92-70 without a full complement of guards, signaling potential for depth-driven wins as Sims integrates.
– If Sims adapts quickly, Indiana could weather the injury disruptions and push for a late-season run.
Possible outlook:
Sims’ extensive experience in the league could provide much-needed playmaking and leadership as Indiana looks to stabilize its guard rotation. Her familiarity with multiple teams may help her fit into the Fever’s system efficiently, potentially giving the club a healthier closer to the season and a clearer path toward the playoffs. The coming weeks will show how quickly she can contribute and how the Fever manage minutes for Clark and the sidelined guards.
Overall, the Fever are choosing to focus on resilience and veteran depth to weather a challenging injury landscape, with hope that Sims’ presence can spark stability and momentum as they chase postseason opportunities.