Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has taken heat for calling Caitlin Clark’s absence a “blessing in disguise.” But the five-game win streak during Clark’s injury hiatus suggests she might have a point.
“I think it says a lot about this group. I mean, we have got a deep team. We have got a great mix of veterans who have been in this league and who understand the ebbs and flows and who understand that injuries are a part of it. And young players who continue to grow in their role and continue to gain their confidence.”— Stephanie White
The Fever have plugged Clark’s minutes smoothly with veterans and emerging pieces alike—Aari McDonald, Sophie Cunningham, Aliyah Boston—stepping forward to take over leadership duties and help sustain the team’s rhythm.
White doubled down with this:
“I said it early when C 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 or defensively… when one person doesn’t have it, somebody else does.”
Team chemistry clearly shifted in that stretch. With the roster short-handed, different players answered the call game by game. Natasha Howard had her 21-point night, Cunningham knocked in high-efficiency scoring, and Boston continued to anchor the paint. Everyone contributed, and the Fever kept climbing in the standings.
That alone set up a stronger platform when Clark eventually returns. White made it clear: the depth being built now reduces pressure on her star recovering guard later on.
Still, frustration is real among fans and pundits who felt Clark is being sidelined prematurely. White’s message wasn’t about replacing her—just expanding the support system around her. And judging by these results, that support has become one of the Fever’s biggest surprises.
Fever Players Embrace Growth as Caitlin Clark Rehab Continues
With Caitlin Clark still out, the Indiana Fever are evolving into a team not reliant on a single star.
As Stephanie White has noted, players outside of Clark have stepped into bigger roles—and they’re doing it freely.
Role players like Aari McDonald and Sophie Cunningham have taken control at moments when Clark’s signature passes or scoring punch was missing. In those stretches, they’ve taken risks, attacked the rim, and trusted their teammates to fill gaps.
Veterans like Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston have muted their own needs for the sake of team balance—focusing on rebounding, screen-setting, and making plays off the ball.
That kind of team-first mindset has warmed the locker-room culture and delivered results. As White put it, “when one person doesn’t have it, somebody else does.”
The Fever’s young wings and guards are growing up fast—finding confidence and identity amid pressure. It’s not about being a star—it’s about taking responsibility when it matters, and feeding off one another’s energy.
When Clark returns, she’ll step into a healthier ecosystem. One with more trust, variety, and read-built chemistry—because everyone else has found their role in the meantime.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
