The Indiana Fever pulled off a dramatic 87-85 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday night, clinching their first WNBA playoff series win in a decade and sending shockwaves through the league. The Fever’s late-game heroics, led by Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, have set up a high-stakes semifinal showdown against the Las Vegas Aces.
Fever’s Gritty Comeback Seals the Deal
With just 7.4 seconds left on the clock,
Aliyah Boston found herself wide open under the basket and calmly sank the go-ahead layup, giving Indiana an 86-85 lead—their first since the second quarter. The Dream, who had controlled much of the game, suddenly found themselves scrambling. On the ensuing inbounds play,
Lexie Hull made a clutch steal, and Odyssey Sims hit a free throw to extend the lead. Atlanta’s last-second three-point attempt by Brionna Jones missed the mark, sealing the Fever’s win and their ticket to the semifinals.
Key Performers Shine Under Pressure
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Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 24 points, including three crucial three-pointers.
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Odyssey Sims delivered a playoff career-high 16 points and 8 assists, along with 3 steals.
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Aliyah Boston notched a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists, including the game-winning basket.
For the Dream,
Allisha Gray posted her first playoff double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds), while
Jordin Canada added 18 points and 10 assists. Despite their efforts, Atlanta couldn’t hold off Indiana’s late surge.
A Decade in the Making
This win marks the Fever’s first playoff series victory since 2015, breaking a long postseason drought for the storied franchise. The team’s resilience was on full display, especially considering they were missing star rookie Caitlin Clark due to injury. Indiana closed the game on a 7-0 run, showcasing their depth and determination.
What’s Next: Fever Face the Defending Champs
The Fever now advance to face the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, a matchup that promises high drama and intense competition. The Aces, defending WNBA champions, will be a formidable opponent, but Indiana’s momentum and newfound confidence could make for a thrilling series.
Why This Win Matters
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Historic comeback: Indiana overcame a late deficit and the absence of key players.
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Emerging stars: Boston and Mitchell have cemented themselves as playoff standouts.
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WNBA shakeup: The Fever’s upset win disrupts the expected playoff narrative and injects fresh excitement into the postseason.
As the WNBA playoffs heat up, all eyes will be on the Fever to see if their Cinderella run can continue against the league’s elite.
Sources
1. Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
2. Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV ...
3. Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream Live Score and Stats - CBS Sports
4. Dream vs Fever WNBA Playoffs First Round Game 1 Prediction
5. Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream Game 3 Post-Game ... - YouTube
6. WNBA Games Today - Odds, Picks, Predictions & News
7. fuboTV Q2 2025 Earnings Report - MarketBeat
