Sydney Colson has shared her disappointment over her exit from the Indiana Fever. She said the team gave her hope of returning but later decided not to bring her back. Her comments have added a personal side to the team's offseason decision.

The veteran guard returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time since her serious knee injury in 2025. She spoke about her time in Indiana and her failed reunion with the team. Colson said the Fever had led her to believe she would return after she tore her left ACL in August 2025.

Colson said, “I’m back in Gainbridge for the first time since I was on the team. Since I tore my ACL last year, since I was pretty much told that I would be back, but wasn’t. And you know what? I always look at it as God protected me. 

Colson spoke about her exit during an appearance on Togethxr’s YouTube channel. She believes missing out on Indiana was for the best and helped her avoid a bad situation. 

“When a door closes I’m like you know what? I wasn’t supposed to be somewhere then. And I wasn’t. I didn’t need to be there because I would have been out of pocket this year,” Colson said. 

Colson expected to return to Indiana, but the team made a different decision. She did not reveal who gave her hope of returning or share details about a possible new contract. However, she made it clear that things did not go as she expected.

The 36-year-old joined Indiana on a one-year deal in 2025. She played 30 games, started six, and averaged around 2.4 points and two assists.

Before her season ended due to an ACL injury, she also helped players speak openly about team problems.

Sydney Colson also questions the lack of open leadership in Indiana

In the same conversation, Colson said she and teammate Brianna Turner spoke privately about team decisions and raised concerns whenever they felt something was wrong.

She said, “I think last year so much was subdued because me and Breezy were there, and when we’re having these closed meetings behind doors, we’re telling y’all what it is. 

Colson said she and Turner openly raised concerns, but not every player speaks up when something feels wrong. 

“Don’t make that kind of statement. It needs to be like this; that doesn’t look good. I don’t feel comfortable with that. But everybody is not outspoken, which we see now in the league,” Sydney Colson said. 

Colson believes not every player speaks openly about problems. She and Turner were ready to share their concerns. Although she didn't name a specific issue, her comments show she valued leadership and believed speaking up could help teams solve problems early.

From Indiana's side, moving on from a 36-year-old guard recovering from major knee surgery may have been a practical decision, according to Luke Randall’s report for HITC. 

The Fever had to make roster decisions, but Colson's comments raise questions about how they handled her future. She expected to return and felt she helped the team beyond basketball. 

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

Know more