5 WNBA players the Fever could add to help during Caitlin Clark’s absence

The Indiana Fever showed on Wednesday night why life might get a little tough in the interim without superstar guard Caitlin Clark.

Sure, Indiana has a very good roster even without Clark, but the team struggled to find any chemistry or momentum against the Washington Mystics on the road. It’s just one game, but the early returns on the Clark-less Fever were not promising.

Luckily for Indiana, the 2025 WNBA trade deadline is still a ways away and free agency is always an option, too. If the Fever want to get aggressive with the roster to help while Clark is away, there are definitely some solid options available via trade or in the free agency pool to help out for the interim.

Let’s take a look at who they are and why they could be smart additions to Indiana’s roster.

G Marina Mabrey

If the Fever want to both make the biggest splash possible during Clark’s absence and set the team up for outrageous depth once she returns, swinging a trade for Mabrey is the answer.

Adding Mabrey from the struggling Connecticut Sun in a big trade (probably involving a 2026 first rounder) would give Indiana a really good starting guard that adds both big-shot potential and defensive prowess on the other end. She played for Fever coach Stephanie White last season in Connecticut, so there would be some scheme familiarity built in.

Sure, this would be a pricy way to keep the Fever afloat during Clark’s absence, but it could bring wins now and give Indiana absolutely absurd depth at guard once Clark returns.

G Rebecca Allen

A more realistic trade option would be Allen, who is only averaging 16.5 minutes a game for the Chicago Sky this season and could give Indiana nice veteran depth to rotate into the lineup during Clark’s absence.

The trade compensation probably wouldn’t be outrageous in this scenario, and again, having Allen come off the bench for Indiana once Clark returns only makes the team more dangerous as the season wears on.

G/F Aerial Powers

Powers is still a free agent for some reason, which gives Indiana an excellent opportunity to sign a proven veteran to the roster who can play substantial minutes. While she doesn’t run point, Powers has the positional flexibility to provide a spark on both ends of the court.

Her offensive skills would be particularly welcomed for Indiana right now, and she’d likely provide outstanding minutes off the bench now and when Clark returns. This would feel like a huge win for both sides.

G Diamond DeShields

DeShields was a surprise cut out of Sun training camp, and she’s a very solid free agent option for the Fever if it wants to look at players without a team at present.

She helped the Sky last season as a valuable role player, and we wonder if she could provide a spark to the Fever during Clark’s absence. Even after Clark returns, there could be a role for her in the Indiana game plan.

G Kate Martin

This one would help just on the vibes alone, as the idea of reuniting Clark and Martin would likely provide a huge boost to the Indiana locker room and just to the team’s spirits in general as Clark recovers.

Martin is only averaging 14.5 minutes off the bench for the Golden State Valkyries this season, and you wonder if the expansion team wouldn’t mind adding draft capital to the future or even a depth veteran on Indiana’s roster in a trade.

Martin had some flashes with the Las Vegas Aces last season, and we’d love to see what she could do to help the Fever in the interim while Clark is out and see the two play together again once Clark returns.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 WNBA players the Fever could add to help during Caitlin Clark’s absence