BALTIMORE – The 2025 season for the Indiana Fever has been full of challenges, marked by the absence of star Caitlin Clark and four other players due to season-ending injuries. However, their perseverance paid off on Sunday by securing a playoff spot with a resounding 94-65 victory over the Washington Mystics. After a seven-year playoff drought, following the retirement of franchise legend Tamika Catchings, Indiana has managed to qualify for the postseason for the second consecutive year, something that hadn’t happened since the period from 2005 to 2016.
Aliyah Boston, the Fever’s first pick in 2023, who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds on Sunday, expressed her confidence in the team. “I think through it all, you can see that we play with joy and we stick together, no matter who is on the court,” she added.We never doubted ourselves. We never doubted that we could be in the playoffs, even when things seemed to get more difficult.
Aliyah Boston
With one game remaining in the regular season against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, the Fever will secure at least the number 7 seed and could be number 6 if the Golden State Valkyries lose. The 23rd victory of the season also set a franchise record; the 2025 season is the longest in league history, with 44 games. In addition, it guarantees the team’s first winning season since 2015. After leading by only seven points at halftime, the Fever dominated the game after the break, outscoring the Mystics by 22 points in the final 20 minutes thanks to increased defensive intensity and attention to detail, forcing 21 turnovers. They also saw five players finish with double digits, including newcomers Aerial Powers (15 points) and Shey Peddy (13 points). This was the Mystics’ second game of the season played at the CFG Arena in Baltimore, which has a larger capacity than the Entertainment & Sports Arena, while D.C.’s Capital One Arena is under renovation. The Fever’s victory was a moment of joy for a team that, despite starting the season with championship expectations, faced adversity with Clark limited to only 13 games and their perimeter game decimated by injuries. With the absence of Clark, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Chloe Bibby, the Fever have had to incorporate four emergency players in recent weeks, forcing the team to reinvent itself. In total, they have had 18 players this season. It has taken time to adapt after each injury, but the Fever have found a rhythm to close out the regular season, winning their last two games (although against teams eliminated from playoff contention) by a total of 49 points. Although Indiana’s championship aspirations were affected by so many injuries, the team will seek to build on this momentum to win the franchise’s first playoff game, and the first postseason series, since 2015. “I look at this group and the roots that have been cultivated throughout the season, thinking not only about where we are now and the opportunity we have in the playoffs, but where we will be in the future,” White said. “When you can go through and grow through these types of experiences, it establishes a foundation for a championship culture and mentality. And, ultimately, that is our ultimate goal.” The WNBA playoffs begin on September 14 and will follow a 1-1-1 format for the first round, meaning the Fever will host a playoff game in Indianapolis for the first time since 2015.With everything we’ve been through, most teams would have crumbled, and we keep getting stronger. These women in the locker room deserve a lot of credit for their ability to remain resilient, united, hungry, and persevering.
Stephanie White
