WNBA Playoff Day 2: Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm Facing Pressure
The WNBA playoffs continue with Day 2, and two teams—Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm—find themselves on the brink of elimination. The Fever is set to host the Atlanta Dream at 7:30 PM in Indianapolis, looking to recover from an 80-68 loss in Game 1. Meanwhile, the Storm will take on the Las Vegas Aces at 9:30 PM ET in Seattle, trying to bounce back from a disappointing 102-77 defeat during their postseason debut.
Both teams have their work cut out for them.
How Indiana Fever Can Even the Series
Indiana’s roster is quite thin, missing key players like Kate Rinklerk, Sophie Cunningham, Chloe Bibby, Aari McDonald, Damiris Dantas, and Sydney Colson due to injuries. It’s a tough situation, as Kelsey Mitchell left everything on the court in the last game, scoring 27 points (9-18 FG) and four assists while also trying to guard All-Star Alisha Gray.
Despite Mitchell’s effort, no other player scored more than 10 points in that game. Aliya Boston, another key piece for the Fever, could only manage 8 points on 3-9 shooting and fouled out midway through the fourth quarter. For Indiana to level the series, Boston really needs to step up her game; facing off against Breonna Jones has historically been challenging for her, averaging 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in her career against Jones.
Additionally, Natasha Howard needs to elevate her performance. Limited to just nine points and seven rebounds in the last outing, she’s now expected to carry more weight as other scoring options are sidelined. Lexi Hull also has to contribute effectively. She played a hefty 36 minutes but only hit 3 of 13 shots, including one of five from beyond the arc. The Fever’s overall shooting was a lackluster 28% in Game 1, making it crucial for Hull to find her rhythm early.
How Seattle Storm Can Stay Afloat
On the flip side, the Storm have been one of the more erratic teams in the league, especially against a dominant Aces squad that has won 17 straight games. Seattle needs a massive effort across the board to even the series. Skylar Diggins failed to score in the first half of Game 1; if she wants to be a contributing factor, her performance needs to be at an all-star level. Britney Sykes also struggled, going scoreless, and has to show why Seattle brought her in at the trade deadline.
Defensive focus is another area where Seattle must improve. In Game 1, the Aces shot over 50% from the field. They can’t afford lapses in defense, particularly against A’ja Wilson. Jackie Young and Jewel Lloyd capitalized on any defensive breakdowns in their last game, each making significant contributions from three-point range.
Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle’s top scorer and an essential two-way player, has to come out strong. She averaged 18.5 points on 60% shooting in the regular season but only managed 11 points on 5-10 shooting in the last matchup. Without her firing on all cylinders, the Storm will struggle to keep pace with the Aces.
