The Indiana Fever have been defined by resilience all season, and Tuesday night, they showed it again. Facing elimination without star Caitlin Clark and four other players lost to season-ending injuries, the Fever stormed past the Atlanta Dream 77-60 to even their first-round WNBA playoff series at one game apiece.
Indiana, the No. 6 seed, never trailed before a sellout crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in its first home playoff appearance since 2016. The 17-point victory snapped a nine-year drought without a postseason win — the second-longest in league history — and set up a winner-take-all Game 3 in Atlanta on Thursday night.
“We played good enough defense down there. Our offense just couldn’t get going, and we were able to get it going on both sides tonight,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “I continue to be so proud of this group and their resilience, their toughness, and their ability to respond.”
Mitchell and Boston Lead the Way
All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell scored a game-high 19 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, adding four assists. Aliyah Boston powered inside for 15 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Natasha Howard chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.
“It was a really big opportunity for us,” Mitchell said. “We came right off the bat and took care of business where we lacked off from the first game. Small victories are big for us.”
Indiana’s offense looked far more balanced than in Game 1, when the Fever hit just two shots from long range and went ice cold down the stretch of an 80-68 loss. On Tuesday, they knocked down eight 3-pointers, moved the ball crisply, and finished with 19 assists on 29 made field goals.
😮💨😮💨😮💨 pic.twitter.com/OsjFw8g8gH
— HaliMuse (@hali_muse) September 17, 2025
The Fever pulled away late in the third quarter. After Boston scored in the post with 8.8 seconds left, Shey Peddy stole the inbound pass, leading to Lexie Hull draining a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 59-44 lead. The sequence sparked a 27-7 run that sealed Indiana’s largest postseason win facing elimination since 2009.
“Just continuing to be assertive, reading the defense, trying to get good possessions going,” Boston said. “That sequence at the end of the third quarter — scoring the ball, getting that tip, and then Lexie hitting that three — the energy, everyone felt it, the crowd was going crazy. We used that momentum into the fourth.”
Defensive Edge Defines the Night
Indiana’s defense suffocated the No. 3-seeded Dream, who managed just 60 points — their second-lowest total of the season — and shot 5-for-19 from deep. Atlanta’s All-Star backcourt of Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray combined for only 19 points on 7-for-25 shooting, far below their usual output.
“They were aggressive defensively,” Dream head coach Karl Smesko said. “They were super physical. … We’re going to have to shoot it better, but we’ve got a lot of really talented offensive players, and I think we’ll get it going next game.”
White emphasized that the difference was Indiana’s attention to detail on both ends. “They were getting the hustle plays, getting on the floor after loose balls, finishing defensive plays, making sure we boxed out and got the ball,” she said. “When you continue to execute and play with multiple levels of effort, good things usually happen.”
The Fever also benefited from the energy of Ariel Powers, whose hustle set the tone in the first half.
“She feeds off so much energy and she always has a lot of energy,” Boston said about Powers. “I love when I see her hype up the crowd, everyone gets involved. What AP brings to us — that aggression, just getting after loose balls — it’s great.”
that was fun 😆 pic.twitter.com/nxbXRTwMfQ
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 17, 2025
Confidence Carries Into Game 3
The Fever’s veterans credited the home atmosphere — red “Now You Know” t-shirts covered the arena, and franchise legend Tamika Catchings watched courtside. The emotions carried into the locker room after Indiana earned its first playoff win since October 2015.
“Everyone was happy. Vibes were really great,” Boston said. “Our backs were against the wall in this, and we’ve just been through so much this season that coming out with this win and giving ourselves another chance in Game 3, emotions are high.”
Mitchell noted how much it meant to win on their home floor. “It takes a village,” she said. “Our first win here was big for us because we’ve been resilient throughout the year. It felt really good to see ourselves on top and do something great for a change.”
The Fever even got contributions from their youngest players, with rookie Makayla Timpson scoring her first playoff points and finishing with nine off the bench. For White, it was proof that every piece of the roster was contributing to a resilient push.
“This group’s confidence has really never wavered,” White said. “We’ve been in every kind of situation and found ways to put ourselves in position to win. If we maintain our attention to detail, defensive effort, and shoot with confidence, we give ourselves a chance.”
Game 3 tips at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN2. The winner advances to the semifinals to face either Las Vegas or Seattle.
