Indiana Fever forward Temi Fagbenle will miss at least 2-3 weeks because of a left foot injury suffered during Tuesday's 88-82 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, the team announced Wednesday.
The 1-7 Fever will also be without guard Erica Wheeler for Thursday's meeting against the Seattle Storm because of personal reasons.
The Fever, who drafted the NCAA's all-time leading scorer in Caitlin Clark No. 1 overall last month, have had a rocky start to the season, now exacerbated by injures.
Fagbenle, who is playing her first season in the WNBA since 2019, had been inserted into the starting lineup two games ago and is averaging 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game on the season. The 6-foot-4 center has been praised for her defense and her burgeoning chemistry with Clark in transition offense.
Wheeler, initially a starter as Kelsey Mitchell made her way back from an ankle injury, is averaging 3.5 points and 2.1 assists in 16.3 minutes per game. The Fever, whose sole win came last Friday against the Sparks, are 11th in the standings, and their minus-15.6 net rating ranks worst in the league.