Injury setback for Sydney Colson: ACL tear ends her season participation with the Sydney team.
The Indiana Fever's 2025 season has been marred by a string of injuries, most notably to key guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald. Both players are out for the remainder of the season, with Colson suffering a torn ACL in her left knee and McDonald breaking a bone in her right foot, both injuries occurring in early August [1][4].
The loss of Colson and McDonald has left the Fever thin at the backcourt, complicating their rotation and depth. Colson, a veteran player and well-liked leader in the Fever's locker room, will miss the rest of the season due to her injury [3]. McDonald, another significant contributor to the Fever's rotation, will also miss the rest of the season [4].
These setbacks have forced the Fever to sign veteran guard Shey Peddy and others like Odyssey Sims, Chloe Bibby, and Kyra Lambert on hardship contracts to fill the gap created by the loss of their main point guards [1]. Despite the significant setbacks, the Fever remain competitive, holding a 17-14 record and placing fifth in the WNBA standings while hoping to make the playoffs [1][3][5].
The injuries have taken a toll on the Fever, both physically and emotionally. Head coach Stephanie White acknowledged the emotional impact, stating that the team is affected by the losses [2]. The Fever will host the Chicago Sky on Saturday night with only nine players available due to injuries [2].
Despite the challenges, the Fever have shown resilience. Kelsey Mitchell, who scored 18 points in the last game, expressed confidence in the team's ability to overcome the injuries [2]. Sydney Colson averages 2.4 points and 2.0 assists in 13 minutes per game for the Fever [4].
The Fever's playoff positioning and potential title run have taken a major hit, but the team's roster depth may cushion the effect, especially with recent signings stepping in [1][3]. The Fever are only two games ahead of Los Angeles, the first team out of playoff contention. The injuries came after a five-game winning streak for the Fever, followed by back-to-back losses [1].
References:
[1] Indiana Fever official website. (n.d.). Injury updates. Retrieved from https://www.indianafever.com/news/injury-updates
[2] ESPN. (2025, August 15). Indiana Fever lose Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald for rest of season. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34144532/indiana-fever-lose-sydney-colson-aari-mcdonald-rest-season
[3] The Athletic. (2025, August 15). Indiana Fever hit by injuries to Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/3414453/2025/08/15/indiana-fever-sydney-colson-aari-mcdonald-injuries/
[4] Sports Illustrated. (2025, August 15). Indiana Fever's Sydney Colson out for season with torn ACL. Retrieved from https://www.si.com/wnba/2025/08/15/indiana-fever-sydney-colson-out-season-torn-acl
[5] CBS Sports. (2025, August 15). Indiana Fever's Sydney Colson out for season with torn ACL. Retrieved from https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/indiana-fevers-sydney-colson-out-for-season-with-torn-acl/
- The Fever's recent signings, such as Shey Peddy, Odyssey Sims, Chloe Bibby, and Kyra Lambert, have been brought in to fill the void created by the long-term injuries to key players Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald.
- Despite the injuries, the Indiana Fever remain competitive in the WNBA, holding a 17-14 record and placing fifth in the standings, with a possible playoff berth still within reach.
- The loss of veteran leader Sydney Colson and significant contributor Aari McDonald has left the Fever's basketball team depleted at the guard position, making their rotation and depth more complicated.
