Indiana Fever Uses Hardship Exception Amid Injuries

The Indiana Fever have been navigating a challenging start to the WNBA season due to significant injuries, most notably to star guard Caitlin Clark and veteran Sophie Cunningham. To address the shortage of healthy players, the Fever signed Aari McDonald under the emergency hardship exception, allowing temporary roster expansion; McDonald has quickly become a fan favorite with strong performances including a 12-point game in a win over the Chicago Sky. However, with Clark nearing a return from injury, McDonald faces likely release due to league roster rules unless the Fever make difficult roster adjustments or wait for cap space later in the season. Meanwhile, the Fever continue to perform well in Clark's absence, with players like Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston stepping up to secure victories. Adding to the team's challenges, head coach Stephanie White is currently absent for personal reasons, with assistant coaches leading the team during her absence. Despite these hurdles, the Fever maintain competitive play and are hopeful for a healthy roster and coaching staff return soon.