Indiana Fever Snap Nearly 10-Year Playoff Win Drought Behind Stifling Defense
INDIANAPOLIS — The third-quarter buzzer sounded in Game 2 of the Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream first-round series, and Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted. With less than nine seconds left in the period, the Fever scored five quick points, including a three-pointer from Lexie Hull just before the horn, extending their lead to 15. The crowd’s roar marked the loudest moment of the night, signaling a home team firing on all cylinders.
Indiana carried that momentum into the final frame, pushing their lead over 20 and securing a dominant 77-60 victory. After a Game 1 loss, the response was emphatic — and historic. This win marked Indiana’s first playoff victory in nearly a decade, the team’s previous postseason triumph coming on October 11, 2015, in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. Tuesday night was also the first time the Fever hosted a playoff game since 2016, giving fans a long-awaited taste of postseason action.
“It felt really good to see ourselves on top and do something great for a change,” said Kelsey Mitchell, who has been with Indiana since 2018. “It’s been a long time coming, and this was a big moment for us.”
Mitchell’s rookie season came three years after Indiana’s last playoff win. Only four current Fever players — Natasha Howard, Damiris Dantas, Sydney Colson, and Odyssey Sims — were active in the league the last time Indiana emerged victorious. Stephanie White, now in her second stint as head coach, had also previously guided the franchise.
Tuesday night’s win was no ordinary victory. Indiana’s defense was the driving force, holding Atlanta to just 60 points — the fourth-lowest total they allowed all season. “It was finishing defensive plays, making sure that we boxed out and then went and got the ball,” White said. She credited attention to detail on defense for turning a series opener loss into a commanding home victory.
The Dream struggled to find their rhythm, shooting 37.9% from the field and failing to surpass 40% in either game of the series. Atlanta committed 13 turnovers again, and poor free-throw shooting compounded their difficulties. All-WNBA candidate Allisha Gray went 4-of-16, Rhyne Howard 3-of-9, and Jordin Canada 2-of-7, while Brittney Griner made just three of her seven attempts. Indiana’s defensive pressure forced multiple misses and limited offensive rebounds, holding Atlanta to just five second-chance opportunities compared to 12 in Game 1.
“They were aggressive defensively. They were super physical,” Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko said. “When a team’s playing that physical, sometimes you have a tendency to slow down, and I think that played into their physicality.”
Indiana’s defensive intensity translated into offense. Mitchell scored 19 points, while Aliyah Boston and Howard also reached double figures. The bench made a significant impact, with Makayla Timpson outscoring the entire second unit from Game 1. Aerial Powers and Shey Peddy provided energy and connectivity, ensuring that the Fever maintained their intensity throughout.
“Our aggressiveness, our attention to detail, our ability to contest without fouling, to be disciplined in that area I thought was huge,” White said. “We played good enough defense down [in Atlanta], and our offense just couldn’t get going. Tonight, we were able to get it going on both sides.”
The victory extended the series, pushing the matchup back to Atlanta for a decisive Game 3 on Thursday. The Dream remain a strong team, but Indiana has proven they can elevate their defense when it matters most. The Fever will need to maintain that focus and intensity if they hope to advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2015.
“I think it will be a really good challenge for us… Somebody has to lose and somebody has to win, obviously,” Mitchell said. “It was a big opportunity tonight, but you’ve gotta let it be the moment and fuel you for Thursday.”
With history broken and a home crowd still buzzing, the Fever have reminded everyone that disciplined defense can be the difference between a lost series and a shot at postseason glory.
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