Four Fever players that need to step up in Caitlin Clark's absence, from Kelsey Mitchell to DeWanna Bonner

David Suggs

Four Fever players that need to step up in Caitlin Clark's absence, from Kelsey Mitchell to DeWanna Bonner image

The past few weeks have been a blur for the Fever, arguably the WNBA's most talked-about team.

Between on-court fracases, sour results and a high-profile regime change, Stephanie White's side finds itself in a bit of a chaotic state just four games into the season.

The drama reached new heights on Monday afternoon when Caitlin Clark was ruled out at least two weeks with a quadricep injury.

Indiana has been far from perfect in 2025. But Clark powered a lineup that ranks first in pace, second in points and third in net rating.

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Things will undoubtedly change as Clark undergoes treatment. Players tasked with catering to Clark's needs are now set to attempt to craft their own story.

So, just who could take on a bigger role in the Fever setup with Clark off the floor? Here's what you need to know.

MORE: Where does Caitlin Clark rank among best WNBA players?

Four Fever players who need to step up in Caitlin Clark's absence

Kelsey Mitchell

At her best, Mitchell is a spell-binding talent with the ball in her grasp. Her game is pockmarked with flair, from dizzying crossovers and step-backs to an assortment of layup finishes. Simply, the former second-overall pick is one of the W's best players. She's made that label abundantly clear while sharing the backcourt with Clark, placing 10th in MVP voting last season.

Mitchell is no stranger to taking on the brunt of the scoring load for Indiana. She routinely served in such a role prior to Clark's arrival.

Clark's gravity has offered Mitchell even more space to operate. With Clark on the mend, expect defenses to place their sights firmly on the Ohio State alum, who will now be tasked with serving as both the team's primary scoring option — at least on the perimeter — as well as its primary facilitator.

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Mitchell is a trebuchet when she's in a rhythm, more than capable of launching arrows through the rim. She'll likely increase her scoring output with Clark away from the floor. If she's able to match that added scoring punch with precise and timely passes, the Fever might be able to claim some victories in Clark's absence.

Aliyah Boston

Boston fell a bit short of her historic 2023 rookie season in 2024, seeing her true shooting drop from an impressive 61.9% in 2023 to just 56.6% as a sophomore.

We're only four games into 2025. But Boston looks to have regained her first-year form — and then some.

Her scoring has ballooned to 18.5 points per game, while he rebounding and block numbers have similarly swelled. She's shooting 60.8 percent from the field, eight percent better than her mark in 2024.

Boston looks well on her way to a career-best season. Yes, she has struck up an effective partnership with Clark. But she's also a tremendously gifted player who looks to have gone up a level in the offseason.

Between her play-making chops, her defensive acumen and her desire to put the ball through the hoop, there aren't too many flaws in Boston's game. She'll have to remain aggressive with Clark off the floor. But Boston looks well-equipped to keep her strong performances coming with Clark away.

MORE: Sporting News WNBA experts make picks for Caitlin Clark, WNBA Finals and more

DeWanna Bonner

Bonner hasn't had the most fluid start to life in Nap Town. Despite earning three starts in her first four games, the 27-year-old is averaging just 2.5 points. More worryingly, perhaps, is the fact that Bonner has taken just 16 shots thus far.

With so many talents scrawled across Indiana's roster, it's easy to understand why Bonner hasn't been able to find her scoring touch. She's a streaky shooter who operates best alongside a multi-faceted talent. Clark's injury deprives her of the latter. But her reputation should offer her more chances to strut her stuff.

It's hard to imagine a scenario where Indiana will be able to tread water without Bonner coming into the fold. White has crafted a number of actions involving Bonner over the years. She'll likely resort to those tactics once more to get the league's third-highest-scoring player into the game.

Sophie Cunningham

Clark's on-ball heroics get most of the shine. But her shooting — and the threat it poses on weary defenses — carves open space for other Fever stars.

Indiana won't have that for the next two weeks (minimum). The Fever need shooting to counteract that loss. Enter Cunningham, a 6-1 wing who has shown a willingness to let it fly from deep.

Cunningham canned 37.8% of her triples in 2024 on 4.5 attempts per contest. She's posted two seasons of 40% or better shooting from deep, one of which (2022) saw her average 6.3 attempts. If she can remain efficient with increased output, Cunningham will play a vital role in Indiana's Clark-less lineup.

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.