In January 2024, Temi Fagbenle inked a deal with the Indiana Fever for training camp. She was already eyeing a strong start with the team. Blending with her teammates and making all first 8 games with 2 starts, Fagbenle was easing in well with her defensive efforts. But then, she was stopped by a major setback.

On May 28th, Fagbenle injured her left foot for the first time, which would sideline her for 2-3 weeks. In a month’s time, however, she was ready to get back, only to encounter a similar instance once again.

On June 27th, she came off the bench to help her team in a game against the Seattle Storm. 20 minutes and 8 points in, the forward injured her thumb. Acceptance then came hard for Fagbenle who was averaging her best numbers at 8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. “They shut me down,” she said, according to Chloe Peterson.

Fagbenle played two more games after sustaining the injury, icing her thumb whenever possible. With all those efforts, she was finally able to log 13 minutes for 10 points against Phoenix and 16 minutes for 2 points versus the Las Vegas Aces. But after that, she could not put it off any longer. “I was in denial. I was injured in Seattle, then played two more games. I was just running on adrenaline, being angry and annoyed.”

For the 31-year-old forward, back-to-back injuries were a major setback. “It was definitely a mental struggle,” she admitted, especially since she had never encountered such a situation before. However, the struggle is over, and she’s ready for a return when her team needs her the most.

Temi Fagbenle’s return is eagerly anticipated by Indiana Fever fans

After the Olympics break, the Fever made a dominant start with a third win over the Phoenix Mercury. Following a triumphant victory against the Mercury—their first 3-0 since 2015—the Fever added another win in a home game against the Storm. It has gone quite well so far, but to maintain their winning momentum, they need Fagbenle.

After Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx, the Fever have a stretch of games every other day. They will face Atlanta on Monday, return to Indianapolis to play the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, head to Chicago on Friday, and finally conclude the stretch with a game against Dallas on Sunday.

For these five games in nine days, the team needs players to stay fresh, including the starters. “So good to see Temi out here… When we finish, we’re going to get together and see how she felt, and hopefully, she’s open for this weekend,” expressed Christy Sides. For all the Fever fans, Temi Fagbenle’s return has been eagerly anticipated. Now, the question is: Will she be able to prove herself after her return? Stay tuned to find out!