Odyssey Sims steps up as Fever fill Caitlin Clark’s absence with a standout night
Odyssey Sims seized the moment Tuesday night in Indianapolis, delivering a performance that underscored how much confidence she’s gained since joining the Fever. With Caitlin Clark sidelined by a groin issue, Indiana leaned on its veteran guard, and Sims answered with a 22-point, six-assist night as the Fever cruised past the Seattle Storm 95-75.
The defining moment came late in the fourth quarter. With the shot clock running down and the Fever locked in a comfortable lead, Sims found herself well beyond the arc with three seconds remaining. Facing a defender, she launched a 35-foot attempt that banked in off the glass to cap a night that felt like a breakout moment. “I did not think it was going in, I was just as surprised everybody else, ya’ll saw my face,” Sims laughed afterward. “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, it went in! And here we go, right back like I knew it was gonna happen,’ but I didn’t. But hey, that just shows we was having a great night, collectively. Not just myself, but my team included, it was just everything was going right for us.”
Sims’ rapid integration into Indiana’s offense is one of the more compelling stories of Clark’s absence. She had only one practice before her Fever debut and initially came off the bench before starting four straight games. Her performance against Seattle emphasized her comfort level as a primary driver in a system built around Clark’s playmaking.
Head coach Stephanie White lauded Sims’ two-way impact, noting her relentless drive to the rim and her decision-making in tighter spaces. “Her gift is her ability to get to the rim. It’s the ability to get downhill. She was aggressive and she made the right reads. When she needed to see the collapse and pass it off, she did. When she had the advantage, she went to the rim. I just thought she played a really good pace, and I thought she played aggressive offensively, and it’s exactly what we need,” White said.
The win snapped Indiana’s three-game skid and kept the Fever in the thick of the playoff race. More than just a one-night spark, Sims’ performance signaled that she can shoulder meaningful responsibility while Clark works her way back. She joined Clark as the only Fever players to reach 50 points and 25 assists in fewer than six games, cementing a place in franchise history and giving Indiana reason for optimism about its depth as the season approaches its stretch run.
Sims credited the surrounding talent for easing her transition. “I’m surrounded by some really great players … they’re gonna continue to uplift me,” she said. “Just continuing to learn, especially defensively and offensively, just to stay aggressive and do the little things, continue to be an energy player.”
Bottom line: the Fever appear to have found a steady path forward even with Clark sidelined, and Sims’ early impact in a tougher role provides a hopeful sign for Indiana as it tries to maintain momentum in a crowded playoff race.