The Indiana Fever’s longest road trip of the season ended in disastrous fashion Thursday night in Phoenix.
Not only did they lose to the Mercury, 95-60, they lost both of their remaining point guards to injury: Sydney Colson exited early in the first quarter with a left knee injury, then Aari McDonald suffered a right foot injury in the fourth.
Coach Stephanie White said both players would be further evaluated Friday.
With Caitlin Clark still recovering from the right groin injury she suffered in mid-July (no timetable on her return), the Fever do not have any healthy true point guards on the roster and are eligible to sign a player via emergency hardship waiver.
Indiana signed McDonald to an emergency contract earlier this season when injuries to Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Colson left them with only two healthy guards.
Here are a few potential options:
Bree Hall
The 6-1 South Carolina product has familiarity with Indiana after being selected 20th overall by the Fever in this year’s draft. Hall was waived by the Fever on May 5, then signed with Golden State in June. She appeared in two games with the Valkyries before being waived a week later.
Odyssey Sims
The 32-year-old Sims would provide veteran depth to the position. A 2019 WNBA All-Star, she averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 steals for the Sparks, who waived her after 12 games to clear space for players returning from injury. Sims averaged 12.6 points in 24 games between Dallas and Los Angeles last season.
Serena Sundell
The 2025 third-round pick out of Kansas State represents a low-risk, high-reward option. Sundell, who was waived by Seattle in May and has yet to make her WNBA debut, led the nation with 7.3 assists per game and set the program record with 262 assists at K-State last season. She recently signed with the Adelaide Lightning of Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).
Zia Cooke
Cooke was waived after being acquired by the Washington Mystics from the Seattle Storm earlier this week. Selected 10th overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023, the 5-9 Cooke averaged 3.3 points and 10.4 minutes over 24 games with the Storm. She had eight points in 12 minutes on July 28 at Connecticut.
Deja Kelly
The Oregon grad signed a training camp contract with the Las Vegas Aces after going undrafted. She appeared in two preseason games (totaled 24 points, including 15 vs. Phoenix) before being waived. Kelly averaged 14.7 points and 3 assists in her five-year college career (153 games).
Aerial Powers
Another option that would bring additional experience to the locker room, Powers has a WNBA championship (2019) and an additional finals appearance (2018) with the Washington Mystics on her résumé. Selected No. 5 by Dallas in 2016, Powers has also made stops in Minnesota, Atlanta and, most recently, Golden State. She appeared in two games with the Valkyries in June.
Jaylyn Sherrod
Sherrod went from undrafted out of Colorado to a WNBA champion with the New York Liberty in 2024. She was waived by the Liberty earlier this week to make way for Emma Meesseman. Coach Sandy Brondello told reporters last Friday that Sherrod was “a joy to have around” and praised the energy she brought. Sherrod averaged 1.2 points, 0.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.6 steals over 18 games this season.
Grace Berger
The former IU standout and 2023 Indiana Fever first-round draft pick signed her third and final seven-day hardship contract with Dallas on Aug. 5, meaning in a few days she’ll either be a Wing the rest of the way or a free agent. Berger had two points, four assists and a steal in 21 minutes vs. New York in her most recent appearance. She was in training camp with Minnesota and played in one game with Los Angeles.
IndyStar reporter Chloe Peterson contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Another injury crisis leaves Fever without a healthy point guard. Who is available for hardship contract?
Reporting by Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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