Indianapolis
At the start of the season, it would have been hard to believe they’d find themselves in this situation come late August.
The expectation this year was to rank highly. However, as they approach Tuesday’s game against Seattle, winning is crucial just to maintain a playoff position heading into the stretch of the season.
This matchup starts a series of games that could significantly sway their postseason hopefuls. Indiana is currently vying with Spark and Valkyrie for the final playoff spots.
The upcoming three games against these teams are pivotal for Indiana, and they kicked off this critical stretch in the best possible way.
With standout performances from Aliya Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Odyssey Sims—who made her mark as a new addition—Indiana secured a convincing 95-75 win over Seattle.
“It was huge,” said Coach Stephanie White after the game. “At this point in the season, every game felt significant, and this one was crucial for us. We knew we needed to play with urgency, and I think we put together nearly 40 minutes of strong play. I’m proud of this team.”
Indiana came into this game somewhat shaky. They had a five-game winning streak and were holding onto a playoff seed with a 17-12 record in early August, but recently lost six out of their last eight games, dropping them to 19-18. They were just one game away from the eighth and final playoff positioning.
It was pivotal for Indiana to reevaluate their situation. One could hardly fault them for their frustration given the injuries to key players like Caitlin Clark and Chloe Bibby, along with season-ending injuries to Sophie Cunningham, Ahri MacDonald, and Sidney Colson.
With all these roster changes, Sims has stepped into the starting point guard role. During Tuesday’s game, her contribution of 22 points and six assists in 28 minutes stood out.
Boston also shined, scoring 27 points—10 of those in a decisive third-quarter push—and grabbing nine rebounds. Mitchell added another 21 points to her tally, setting a franchise record for points in a single season.
Indiana showed dominance across the board, highlighted by winning the rebound battle 42-21 and outscoring the Storm in second-chance points, 22-4.
While the win on Tuesday was significant, it won’t mean much if they can’t follow it up against Los Angeles and San Francisco in their upcoming games. The team left the court with a clear message: there’s still more to accomplish.
“This feels really good,” said Sims. “The cohesion we showed offensively and defensively really reflects our growth. We’ll carry this momentum into the next game. Just taking it one game at a time and staying focused on our next opponent.”
While the Fever may not be where they envisioned themselves in May, they still have to make the best of their circumstances. A strong performance this week won’t guarantee a playoff spot, but it does bring that goal closer.
Indiana’s upcoming schedule features games against the Sparks and Valkyrie, wrapping up in Phoenix—where they suffered a significant loss during their last visit. They’ll then head home for games against Chicago and Washington, two teams within the playoff race. The schedule ends up with Minnesota, where top seeds could rest while planning for playoff matchups.
This positioning is advantageous for Indiana as the regular season draws to a close, making the need for Tuesday’s victory and future games even more pressing. In a season marked by injuries, this series could turn into a positive narrative against the odds.
“We knew this game was crucial, considering Seattle’s position in the standings,” reflected Boston. “But now, with the West Coast trip ahead, I’m focusing on LA. The emphasis this whole season has been on taking it one game at a time, being present.”
“So, I’ll start prepping for LA tomorrow, but this next series of games is definitely significant,” she concluded.
