Colts’ Shane Steichen commends Fever following intense WNBA playoff win

Indiana Fever Celebrates WNBA Playoff Victory After Ten Years

After a decade-long wait, the Indiana Fever has finally marked a playoff victory in the WNBA series. They stunned the Atlanta Dream in the first round, securing a win in Game 3 in a thrilling finish on Thursday.

Having avoided elimination by triumphing in Game 2, Indiana’s players came alive in the closing quarter, achieving an unexpected 87-85 victory. Shane Steichen, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, took note of the Fever’s remarkable playoff journey and expressed his admiration.

“I was really cheering for the Fever and Coach White for what they accomplished last night. They’ve faced some challenges with injuries but managed to push through. We’re definitely wishing them all the best in the next round,” Steichen remarked when speaking to the media on Friday.

“It’s fantastic to see them find a way to win. Their grit and resilience are evident, and the way they’re working together is impressive,” he continued.

Sophie Cunningham, a standout for the Fever, responded to Steichen’s praise on social media, saying, “This is so cool! Love the support for your amazing coach!”

Moreover, Kelsey Mitchell praised head coach Stephanie White after leading the Fever to the semifinals. “I’ve experienced a lot of coaching changes in my eight years. I remember the tough times when we had the worst record in Fever history, so I value where I am now,” Mitchell shared. After defeating the third-seeded Dream, she noted, “This feeling is unlike anything I’ve had in my professional career.”

While the Dream clinched 30 wins in the regular season and were favored to reach the WNBA Finals, the Fever had a challenging year, battling injuries but still managed to win the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup and finish with 24 victories.

As they encountered injuries, five players from the start of the 2025 season faced season-ending situations. This barrage of setbacks occurred within a short two-month window. In early September, Kaitlyn Clark announced she’d be unavailable for the rest of the season after sustaining an injury in July.

Point guard Clark expressed her struggles on social media, describing the disappointment she felt as “too big to articulate.” She spent many hours pursuing her goal of returning to play, reflecting on the uphill battle her team faced.

Fellow guards Sidney Colson and Ahli MacDonald also suffered significant injuries in their previous match against Phoenix Mercury; Colson has a torn ACL, while McDonald has a broken leg. Cunningham’s season ended due to an MCL injury sustained in late August.