Fever Ready to Ignite First Home Playoff Game in Nine Years
INDIANAPOLIS — In last year’s WNBA Playoffs, Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White could barely contain her relief at avoiding a playoff trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The atmosphere there was famously intense, fueled by Indiana Fever fans who had been energized all season by Caitlin Clark’s electrifying debut. Fortunately for White and her Sun squad, the Fever were eliminated in the first round in just two games — both at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, thanks to the league’s previous playoff format favoring higher seeds hosting the opening games.
“I remember a year ago in Connecticut, it was like, ‘Thank God we didn’t have to go back to Indiana,’” White, who took over as Fever head coach after leaving Connecticut following the 2024 season, recalled.
Those days are officially over. With the WNBA’s new first-round format introduced this season, the best-of-three series now alternates home court, giving the higher seed Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3 at home. The change, paired with league-wide charter flights, makes playoff travel more streamlined and ensures every team has the opportunity to host a home game early in the postseason.
For the Fever, this means Tuesday’s matchup marks their first playoff home game since 2016. None of the current roster played in that game nearly a decade ago, as veterans like Kelsey Mitchell and Natasha Howard had either yet to join the team or were traded elsewhere. Indiana’s 2016 roster featured stars such as Tamika Catchings in her final season, Briann January, now an assistant coach, and Erica Wheeler, currently with the Seattle Storm.
“I think last year, our fans were robbed of getting to be part of the playoff experience,” said Fever guard Lexie Hull, one of five returning players from 2024. “Watching the Pacers in the playoffs, the fans really show out. Gainbridge is loud, crazy, electric. To be able to host a game there and give our fans this experience, I think we’re really excited about it.”
The Fever will need every ounce of that support. Atlanta holds a 1-0 series lead after an 80-68 win at Gateway Center on Sunday. Indiana must win on Tuesday to even the series and force a decisive Game 3 back in Atlanta.
“We’re really trying to figure out a way to come back,” Mitchell said. “We would like to play again, so we’re gonna have to take the necessary steps to be at our best. Being back at home can give us a sense of comfort, and hopefully we can use it for what it’s worth and not take it for granted.”
While the Fever have talent and determination, they must navigate challenges that plagued them in Game 1 — including fouls that disrupted their rhythm and technical issues that cost valuable momentum. Clean execution and capitalizing on homecourt energy will be critical if the team hopes to extend its season.
As the Fever prepare to step onto the Gainbridge floor in front of 17,000 screaming fans, they’re not only chasing a win but a chance to reconnect with the playoff atmosphere that has eluded this franchise for nearly a decade. With a roster ready to write a new chapter, the stage is set for an electric homecoming that Fever fans have long been waiting for.
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