The Indiana Fever’s 2025 campaign has been marked by adversity, especially with the absence of their star Caitlin Clark and four other players due to season-ending injuries. However, their determination paid off on Sunday, securing a playoff spot with a resounding 94-65 victory over the Washington Mystics. After seven years without playoffs following the retirement of the legendary Tamika Catchings, Indiana has managed to qualify for the postseason consecutively for the first time since the period from 2005 to 2016.
Aliyah Boston, the Fever’s first pick in 2023, finished Sunday with 12 points and 11 rebounds.We never doubted ourselves. We never doubted that we could make the playoffs, even when things seemed to get complicated.
Aliyah Boston
With one game remaining in the regular season against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, the Fever will secure at least the seventh spot and would be sixth 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. This also guarantees the team’s first winning season since 2015. After leading by only seven points at halftime, the Fever controlled the game after the break, outscoring the Mystics by 22 points in the last 20 minutes, thanks to greater defensive urgency and attention to detail, forcing 21 turnovers. In addition, five players finished with double figures, including newcomers Aerial Powers (15 points) and Shey Peddy (13 points). It 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 renovations are underway at D.C.’s Capital One Arena. The Fever’s victory was a moment of joy for a team that, despite starting the season with championship expectations, faced a tough challenge with Clark limited to only 13 games and their defense decimated by injuries. With the absence of Clark, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Chloe Bibby, the Fever had to incorporate four emergency players in the last few weeks, forcing the team to reinvent itself. In total, they have had 18 players on the roster this season. It has taken time to readjust 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 combined total of 49 points. Although Indiana’s championship ceiling was affected by so many injuries, they will look to build on this momentum to win the franchise’s first playoff game, and first postseason series, since 2015.With everything we’ve been through, most teams would have crumbled, but we got stronger. These women in the locker room deserve a lot of credit for their ability to remain resilient, united, hungry, and persevere.
Stephanie White
The WNBA playoffs begin on September 14th 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.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 also about where we will be in the future. When you can go through and grow through these types of experiences, a foundation for championship culture and mentality is established. And, ultimately, that is our ultimate goal.
Stephanie White
