Odyssey

Sims

Sims willed the Fever after Kelsey Mitchell checked out of the game with a serious injury with a bit over five minutes left in the third quarter. She became their number one option, someone who could create offense via her ability to get into the paint. That’s part of the reason why both she and Mitchell played so well together. Sims scored 14 of her 27 total points in the fourth and overtime periods and she attempted and made six free throws during those two periods as well. Sims made sure to find Natasha Howard moving off the ball, as she found her four times on Tuesday night. Sims had two more assists throughout the game that went to Mitchell prior to her injury and Aliyah Boston.

Howard did a little bit of everything for the Fever on Tuesday night. She scored moving off the ball while getting on the offensive glass and and play making. Howard completed the Fever’s second most assists with five, second to Odyssey Sims who finished the game with five. She found Lexie Hull for three scores in addition two more assists going to Aliyah Boston and Shey Peddy. Howard scored two of her most important shots in the fourth and overtime periods as her willingness to roll and move in space helped the Fever keep pace with the Aces for most of the game.

With four rotation guards out for the season due to injury, Sims has been an unsung hero for the Fever since joining the team in mid-August. After averaging 10.3 points and 4.0 assists per game in 12 regular-season appearances, the veteran guard has scored 17 points or more in three of the four games of the semifinals. Sims may not have offered much beyond her scoring in Game 4, but that was enough to supplement the excellent performances of Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. Game 5 is on Tuesday in Las Vegas, with the winner headed to the WNBA Finals.

Sims led the Fever scoring the basketball especially when Kelsey Mitchell had an off shooting night in addition to the Aces more aggressive and focused defense. Sims had her most success going downhill and putting pressure on the rim in addition to cutting off the ball to get easier looks right at the basket. She had her most efficient game of the 2025 postseason shooting 58.3% from the floor and her second straight postseason game shooting at least 53% from the field.

Sims made up one half of a dominant Indiana backcourt on Sunday. The veteran guard was composed on both ends of the floor, which led to a solid final stat line. On offense, she picked her spots in the midrange and shot efficiently throughout Game 1, ultimately finishing as the Fever’s second-highest scorer. Additionally, Sims led Indiana in steals on the defensive end and concluded as one of the team’s most impactful players overall. A similar performance from her on Tuesday would greatly benefit Indiana as it looks to take a 2-0 lead.

Boston was on triple-double watch with not only a 14/12 double-double but with six assists. It was her third career postseason double-double and she is now tied for the most assists by a center in an elimination game in WNBA history. Boston scored 11 of her total 14 points in the second half and there was no more important score than the pass she received from Odyssey Sims with 7.4 seconds in regulation that won the Fever the game. Boston’s playmaking on Thursday night mostly consisted of her finding shooters for wide open threes once Boston drew double teams from the Dream. She assisted on four Fever three-pointers coming from Kelsey Mitchell, Sims and Shey Peddy.

Sims was really aggressive getting down hill and like Kelsey Mitchell challenged the Dream’s ability to protect the rim. Besides her scoring, Sims distributed the ball at a really high level. She led the Fever in assists with eight and was excellent at feeding the Fever’s front court tandem in Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard. Sims had the game winning assist where she found the Dream defense sleeping at the wheel near the rim. After the Fever bobbled the ball a bit, Sims passed the ball to Boston for a wide open layup right at the rim to help the Fever survive and advance on to the semifinals.

Adding Sims to the roster has been crucial for the Fever, who can still finish as high as sixth in the standings. Since making her Indiana debut on August 12, the veteran point guard has reached double figures in six of 12 games. Sims did not provide much fantasy value beyond her 15 points in Tuesday’s victory. Still, her arrival is one reason Indiana is headed to the playoffs despite losing four rotation guards to season-ending injuries. To finish sixth, Indiana needs Golden State to lose both of its remaining games.

Sims did most of her damage scoring the basketball in the second quarter where she scored 11 of the Fever’s 26 second quarter points. She moved well off the ball, cutting to the rim and scoring off a couple Natasha Howard passes which included a wide open three-pointer from the right corner. She scored as a result of on-ball creation also, driving and then pulling up for a couple of mid-range twos where she either had space or a defender lagging behind her.

Clark’s injury-riddled 2025 ended disappointingly, with the Fever announcing Thursday that she will remain out for the rest of the season. The two-time All-Star has not appeared in a game since July 15, when she suffered a strained right groin late in Indiana’s win over Connecticut. Also, Clark suffered a bone bruise while attempting to recover from the groin injury. The mid-July injury was the second time Clark strained her groin this season, having injured her left side during a June 24 game against Seattle. Add in the strained left quad suffered in late May, and Clark only appeared in 13 games, averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.2 three-pointers. Odyssey Sims, who has been a starter since mid-August, will continue to serve as Indiana’s starting point guard as they look to lock down a playoff spot.