Candace Parker isn’t exactly sleeping easy when it comes to the thought of Caitlin Clark returning to the Indiana Fever lineup. The three-time WNBA champion recently broke down why Clark’s injury layoff might actually make the Fever more dangerous when she’s back on the court.
“So, it honestly is scary, because not only are you allowing other people to step up, but you’re allowing Caitlin to then survey and realize, oh, she can add,” Parker said.
With Clark on the bench, other players got more chances and the team figured out different ways to win. Parker sees the danger: Clark will return calm and backed by teammates who’ve gotten bolder.
Losing your top pick stings, sure, but it also made the Fever tougher in ugly, useful ways. When Clark’s back, she’s not rejoining a soft squad. She’s walking into a team that knows how to finish, and that’s a nightmare matchup for anyone.
The Fever haven’t just survived—they’ve tweaked the roster and rolled with it. Midseason signings like Aari McDonald and depth adds such as Chloe Bibby, plus Aliyah Boston’s uptick in production, helped Indiana stay competitive while Caitlin Clark rehabs. That mix of smart moves and breakout play has the Fever sitting in the playoff picture despite Clark missing extended time, which only magnifies how dangerous the team could be once she returns.
Plenty of pages left on the Caitlin Chapters.
Fever coach Stephanie White says Caitlin Clark’s absence is a “blessing in disguise”
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White believes there’s a silver lining to Caitlin Clark’s time away from the court.
“I said it early when C (Caitlin) was out the very first time. While we don’t like it, sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise, because everybody else finds themselves. No one is afraid to make the big play offensively and defensively,” White said.
Her point echoes what veteran players and analysts have noticed—the team has shown more balance, spreading the ball around and taking ownership of big moments. In White’s view, this stretch forces the rest of the roster to adapt and lead, which could pay off when Clark returns to full health.
The Fever have also leaned on their bench, giving key minutes to players who might not have seen the court as much. That depth development could be crucial late in the season when every possession matters and Caitlin Clark is back leading the offense.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
