It's win or go home for the Fever at Gainbridge
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Kelsey Mitchell showed up big for the Fever in Game 1. Photo: Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
The WNBA playoffs come to Indy Tuesday night.
Why it matters: The postseason's best-of-three format and a frustrating Game 1 loss to the Atlanta Dream means the Indiana Fever's scrappy 2025 season could come to an end just hours from now.
The big picture: Win or lose, the Circle City can celebrate hosting a WNBA playoff game for the first time since 2016.
Between the lines: The Fever team taking the floor tonight is not the squad of established veterans and rising talent aggressively crafted in the offseason for moments like this.
- Only six of the players on the team when the regular season started suited up for Game 1 thanks to an onslaught of injuries, departures and hardship contracts.
- The team has endured five season-ending injuries, including the loss of 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark.
State of play: While the Dream, who split four games with the Fever in the regular season, are a worthy playoff opponent, questionable officiating gave Indiana another team to contend with in the playoff opener.
- Bad calls forced Fever coach Stephanie White to use both of her challenges in the first half.
- Her aggravation hit its peak in the fourth quarter when she got a technical foul for arguing with the refs.
What they're saying: "It's very frustrating. Nobody likes to use their challenges in the first half. Especially when they're successful," White said. "It is what it is. This is not anything that's new … It's an equal chess match as it is for playing an opponent."
Zoom in: Despite the loss, All-Star Kelsey Mitchell provided a spark in Game 1, scoring 27 points and tying for the seventh-highest-scoring game in franchise history.
Fun fact: Tonight is the first time Mitchell will play a WNBA postseason game at home in her eight-year career.
- "Personally excited? I'll let you know when I get there. But I think it gives (us) a chance to stay in the hunt," Mitchell said. "You're going to have to take the necessary steps to be at your best, but I would like to think that being back at home can kind of give us a sense of comfort. So hopefully we can use it for what it's worth and not take it for granted."
Flashback: Indiana was eliminated in the first round of last year's playoffs after losing two straight games to the Connecticut Sun.
- Both of those games were played on the Sun's home turf because the league followed a 2-1 format with the higher seed hosting the first two games.
- The WNBA switched back to a 1-1-1 format this season.
If you go: Fever vs. Dream tips off at 7:30pm.
- Resale tickets start at $9.
- Watch on ESPN.
- Listen on 93.1 WIBC.