The Indiana Fever’s playoff drought is over, and it’s been quite the rollercoaster ride for fans and the team alike. The Fever, who haven’t qualified for the WNBA playoffs since 2016, are now firmly in the postseason picture in 2024, thanks in large part to the star power of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell. This trio is breathing new life into the franchise, and the Fever’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
With Caitlin Clark leading the charge, Indiana Fever is now above .500 for the first time since June 2019. Yes, you read that right! After a miserable 1-8 start to the season, the Fever flipped the script, winning 18 of their next 27 games. Talk about a comeback! The Fever have not only ended an eight-year playoff drought but are also poised to make some noise in the 2024 postseason.
The Fever’s Current Standings: A Closer Look
At the time of writing (through Monday, Sept. 9), the Indiana Fever are sitting pretty as the sixth seed in the WNBA standings, with a slim chance to move up to fifth. But it won’t be easy — they’ll need some help along the way. While they won the season series against Phoenix (3-0), they lost to the Seattle Storm (1-3), which complicates their seeding. According to WNBA tiebreak rules, the Fever would need to finish one full game ahead of the Storm to nab a better seed.
Here’s a quick look at the WNBA standings through Sept. 9:
| Rank | Team | W-L | Win Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x – New York Liberty | 29-6 | .829 | — |
| 2 | x – Minnesota Lynx | 26-9 | .743 | 3 |
| 3 | x – Connecticut Sun | 25-10 | .714 | 4 |
| 4 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 22-13 | .629 | 7 |
| 5 | x – Seattle Storm | 21-14 | .600 | 8 |
| 6 | x – Indiana Fever | 19-17 | .528 | 10.5 |
| 7 | x – Phoenix Mercury | 17-19 | .472 | 12.5 |
| 8 | Chicago Sky | 13-22 | .371 | 16 |
| — | Atlanta Dream | 12-23 | .343 | 17 |
| — | Washington Mystics | 11-24 | .314 | 18 |
| — | Dallas Wings | 9-26 | .257 | 20 |
| — | Los Angeles Sparks | 7-28 | .200 | 22 |
(X: Clinched Playoffs)
Teams like the Wings and Sparks have already been eliminated, so the Fever can rest a little easier knowing they’re not at the very bottom of the table. But, let’s be honest, things are going to get dicey as they head into the playoffs. Keep reading, and we’ll break down some fun playoff scenarios!
If the WNBA Season Ended Today…
If the WNBA season ended today, the Fever would find themselves facing the No. 3 seed, the Connecticut Sun, in a best-of-three series. Now, don’t get too excited just yet. The Fever have had a rough time against the Sun this season, going just 1-3. Yikes! And if that wasn’t enough, the other likely opponent is the Minnesota Lynx, a team that also has the upper hand over Indiana with a 1-2 record.
If the Fever are going to make a deep playoff run, they’ll need more than just Caitlin Clark draining threes from downtown. They’ll need a complete team effort, some home-court magic, and maybe a bit of luck. And hey, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?
Indiana Fever’s Remaining Schedule: Do They Have a Shot?
The Fever’s schedule to close out the season isn’t exactly a cakewalk, but it’s not all doom and gloom either. They’ll face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces twice (yikes), but here’s the silver lining: Indiana will play four of their final five games at home. Let’s just hope Caitlin Clark keeps her hot shooting streak alive, and the Fever can ride that home-court advantage all the way into the playoffs.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Sept. 11 | vs. Aces | 7 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Friday, Sept. 13 | vs. Aces | 7:30 p.m. | ION |
| Sunday, Sept. 15 | vs. Wings | 3 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Thursday, Sept. 19 | at Mystics | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
Could this be the year that the Fever not only make it back to the playoffs but go on a Cinderella run? Stranger things have happened in sports, and if anyone can lead the charge, it’s Caitlin Clark.
Indiana Fever WNBA Playoff History: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Fever have quite the rollercoaster of a playoff history. Yes, they’ve endured an eight-year playoff drought, but let’s not forget their period of sustained excellence. From 2005 to 2016, the Fever made 12 consecutive playoff appearances, which included multiple deep runs and even a WNBA championship in 2012.
Here’s a quick trip down memory lane:
| Year | Record | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | TBD | TBD |
| 2016 | 17-17 | Lost First Round |
| 2015 | 20-14 | Lost Finals |
| 2014 | 16-18 | Lost East Finals |
| 2013 | 16-18 | Lost East Finals |
| 2012 | 22-12 | Won Finals |
| 2011 | 21-13 | Lost East Finals |
| 2010 | 21-13 | Lost East Finals |
| 2009 | 22-12 | Lost Finals |
| 2008 | 17-17 | Lost East Semifinals |
| 2007 | 21-13 | Lost East Finals |
| 2006 | 21-13 | Lost East Semifinals |
| 2005 | 21-13 | Lost East Finals |
| 2002 | 16-16 | Lost East Semifinals |
Led by Tamika Catchings, one of the greatest to ever play the game, the Fever won their first and only championship in 2012, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in the Finals. Could Caitlin Clark be the new face to lead them back to that level of success? Time will tell!
WNBA Playoff Tiebreakers: The Nitty-Gritty Details
Because it’s not sports without complicated tiebreaker rules, here’s a breakdown of how WNBA seeding tiebreakers work in case the Fever end up in a tie with another team:
Two-Team Tiebreakers:
- Better record in head-to-head games.
- Better winning percentage within the team’s own conference.
- Better winning percentage against teams with .500 or better records.
- Better point differential in head-to-head games.
- Coin toss (the ultimate tiebreaker if all else fails!).
Multi-Team Tiebreakers:
- Better head-to-head winning percentage among the tied teams.
- Better winning percentage against teams within the conference.
- Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record.
- Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
- Coin toss.
So, if you’re one of those fans who obsessively calculates playoff odds, there you go. For the rest of us, let’s just hope the Fever win some games and keep the calculators out of it!
Can Caitlin Clark Lead the Fever to Postseason Glory?
Indiana Fever fans have waited eight long years for this moment. Caitlin Clark’s leadership, combined with Aliyah Boston’s dominance in the paint and Kelsey Mitchell’s sharpshooting, gives the Fever a real shot at making some noise in the playoffs. Whether they face the Sun, Lynx, or any other team, Indiana Fever is a team to watch out for.