Old News: The Indiana Fever overcame the odds to win it all
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Holly Rowe of ESPN interviews head coach Lin Dunn of the Indiana Fever with the championship trophy after defeating the Minnesota Lynx during Game 4 of the 2012 WNBA Finals. Photo: Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images
As the Pacers pursue the franchise's first NBA championship, let's reminisce about the last time Indianapolis sat atop the professional basketball world.
Driving the (old) news: The Indiana Fever entered the WNBA's 2012 postseason in second place after putting together a 22-12 regular season record behind the efforts of stars like Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas.
- But the playoffs were no walk in the park. The Fever faced elimination in both the conference semifinals against the Atlanta Dream, and the conference finals opposite the Connecticut Sun.
- The franchise earned a second trip to the WNBA Finals after an unsuccessful 2009 appearance.
The other side: The Maya Moore-led Minnesota Lynx were the defending champs, and the picture of dominance.
- They walked into finals with a league-best 27-7 regular season record — including a 16-1 record at home — and just a single playoff loss before facing Indiana.
Yes, but: The Fever would overcome the odds one more time.
- After dropping the first game in their two previous series, a Game 1 Indiana victory on the road put a sizable crack in Minnesota's armor.
- The Lynx tied it up in Game 2, but the ball remained firmly in the Fever's court when the series came home to Indy.
- Back-to-back wins in the former Bankers Life Fieldhouse brought the 2012 Finals to an end, and the WNBA Championship Trophy to the Circle City.
Fun fact: In 2022, members of that championship squad got together at Gainbridge for a 10th anniversary celebration.
The latest: The Pacers are two wins away from a celebration of their own. But one more loss will defer those championship dreams for another year.
- The Fever, meanwhile, have made it clear that another title is the goal in 2025 — after returning the team to playoff caliber in 2024 and making significant roster moves in the offseason.
The bottom line: With two teams full of talent, both the Fever and the Pacers are in prime positions for more championship parades in the future.
