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When the Indiana Fever took the court against the Phoenix Mercury on August 7, they weren’t expecting the night to turn into an emotional gut punch. But in just four quarters, two key players – Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald – went down with season-ending injuries, leaving the locker room stunned.
Fever center Aliyah Boston recently opened up about the team’s raw reaction, painting a picture of a group devastated but determined.
How Did Aliyah Boston React to the Fever’s Devastating Injury News?
Boston’s words vividly depicted when the Fever found out Colson and McDonald’s seasons were over. Speaking with WNBA legend Candace Parker on Post Moves With Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston, the All-Star center admitted the news hit everyone hard.
“Everyone was pretty heartbroken when we found out, there was like a lot of tears,” Boston said. “This whole season has been the next woman up no matter what happens. When we started, people were out-injury here, injury there, coming back in the lineup. It kind of sucks because we were in our groove, and everyone had figured out their place and how they were going to play.”
Boston’s words echoed the uncertainty of a season already defined by several injury setbacks. Colson, a veteran voice in the locker room, suffered a torn ACL just minutes into the Fever’s 95-60 loss to Phoenix. Later that night, McDonald, brought in midseason to steady the point guard position in Caitlin Clark’s absence, broke a bone in her right foot in the fourth quarter. Both injuries effectively ended their campaigns before the final stretch.
However, the silver lining for Boston has been the way her teammates have refused to fade into the background. While injured, both guards have been present at practice – Colson on crutches, McDonald on a scooter, laughing and talking with teammates. It’s a quiet but powerful reminder that the Fever’s chemistry runs deeper than the box score.
A bit of a heartbreaking segment discussing Syd and Aari’s injuries. ❤️🩹
AB talks about the team’s response and how much it means that they’re still showing up.CP gives advice on supporting them through it as a teammate based on her own experiences. pic.twitter.com/OYh8XVT8PH— Jess (@FeverBandwagon) August 13, 2025
“It kind of sucks because obviously we were in our groove and everyone had figured out their place and like what how they’re going to play,” Boston added. “So, for us it’s like, ‘listen, like this sucks, but I think the best thing is that Sydney and Aari, they continue to show up. Like they’re there for us.’ So just continue to be there for one another, be there for them, but also understand that we’re playing for them.”
While the bond between Fever teammates remains strong, the real challenge now is depth. With Clark still sidelined by injury, the Fever’s healthy guard rotation has been trimmed to Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham, and Lexie Hull. The team has since added 33-year-old Odyssey Sims on a hardship contract. A proven floor general with a playoff pedigree, Sims will be tasked with helping Indiana stay in the postseason hunt.
Since the injuries, the Fever have split their next two games — a 92-70 win over the Chicago Sky and a narrow 81-80 loss to the Dallas Wings. But with the Fever backcourt severely depleted, all eyes are on Clark’s return.
Can Caitlin Clark Return Before the WNBA Playoffs?
If there’s one question on every Fever fan’s mind, it’s whether Clark will be back in time for the playoffs. The WNBA sensation has been out since mid-July with a right groin injury; recent setbacks have clouded her timeline.
“There’s no return to practice,” coach Stephanie White said this week. “She’s been able to get a little bit more of her full-court running with all of her body weight.”
That cautious update suggests Clark is still weeks away from game action, meaning, at best, she could return right before the postseason begins. The Fever are holding steady in sixth place with an 18-15 record, but the road ahead is grueling: 11 games remain before the playoffs. Without Clark, their biggest scoring weapon and regular point guard, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Still, if Boston’s words are any indication, the Fever squad isn’t giving up. The tears have been shed, the injuries absorbed. Now, it’s about holding the line long enough to give themselves a chance at a healthy roster when it matters most.
