Odyssey Sims has joined the Indiana Fever on a hardship contract, and she's already expressing her enthusiasm for the team's fanbase. Sims' arrival comes as the Fever navigate a challenging period with several players sidelined due to injury. Meanwhile, the timeline for Caitlin Clark's return from a groin injury remains unclear.
The Fever signed Sims to a hardship contract following injuries to Sydney Colson (ACL tear) and Aari McDonald (broken foot). The 33-year-old veteran brings 11 years of WNBA experience to the team, having played for multiple teams, including the Tulsa Shock, Dallas Wings, LA Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, and Connecticut Sun. Throughout her career, Sims has averaged 11.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. In 2019, while playing for the Lynx, she earned her first WNBA All-Star team selection and was named to the All-WNBA Second Team. Most recently, Sims played for the LA Sparks, where she started in 11 games and averaged 9.8 points and 3.5 assists per game.
Sims has expressed excitement about joining the Fever and playing in front of Indiana's passionate fans. "I'm excited about tomorrow," Sims said. "I know Indiana has some great fans, some of the best fans in the W. So I'm a little nervous because it's going to be a lot of people, but I'm excited to play, you know, actually put my jersey on and like I said to be around my teammates". She also conveyed her eagerness to contribute to the team and embrace her role. "I just want to continue that, um, pour into my teammates, let them pour into me, win, um, and get ready for playoffs," Sims stated, emphasizing her commitment to making a positive impact.
While Sims' addition provides a boost to the Fever's roster, the team continues to miss Caitlin Clark, who is recovering from a right groin injury. Clark has been sidelined for nearly four weeks, forcing her to miss the WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis. Coach Stephanie White has shared that Clark has been increasing her activity in individual workouts but has not yet returned to practice. "She's been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with all of her body weight," White said. "It's really building up from doing minimal to then building some endurance to do longer periods of time. She's been able to do a bit more on the court in terms of how she moves but not into practice yet". The Fever have not provided a definite timeline for Clark's return, and she has already missed her 10th consecutive game.
Despite Clark's absence, the Fever have shown resilience, going 6-4 in their last 10 games. In Clark's absence, Lexie Hull and Odyssey Sims are candidates for increased playing time. The team's performance has kept them in the WNBA playoff picture. Clark, who has only played in 13 of the Fever's 32 games this season, has expressed frustration with the challenges of dealing with injuries. "It's just been so challenging being active and playing four games and then not," Clark said. "And like not feeling the best and then frustrated of how hard I worked in the offseason and then all I do is rehab and continue to do this process and just trying to trust that the best I can".
