The Indiana Fever ended a nine-year playoff drought in spectacular fashion, defeating the Atlanta Dream 77–60 in front of a roaring Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd. Kelsey Mitchell led with 19 points, Aliyah Boston added 15, and NaLyssa Smith and Lexie Hull delivered clutch plays to keep Indiana in control. From start to finish, the Fever never trailed — earning their first wire-to-wire playoff victory since 2002 and their first postseason win since 2015.
Atlanta struggled with foul trouble and cold shooting, as Rhyne Howard and Aari McDonald tried to spark a comeback but couldn’t overcome Indiana’s relentless defense. Fresh energy, a hungry crowd, and stifling defense set the tone as the Fever forced a decisive Game 3.
Watch our full recap, breakdown, and SWOT analysis as we dive into how the Fever pulled off this historic win — and what it means for Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs.
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Disclaimer: This video contains game footage used under fair use for news reporting, analysis, and commentary. All rights belong to the WNBA and respective copyright holders.
00:00Indiana's strengths were clear. Mitchell's perimeter scoring, Boston's inside-out versatility, Howard's two-way impact, and a defense that held Atlanta 25 points below their average. Weaknesses were minor, a few turnover stretches and lapses on drives. Opportunities lie in diversifying offense through Boston's passing, expanding Howard's mismatch role, and leaning on Sims to steady second units.
00:25Threats remain depth and fatigue, especially without Clark and Cunningham. In their war room, the fever will emphasize replicating this defensive blueprint in Game 3. Aggressive closeouts, early help on drives, and forcing contested jumpers. Offensively, Mitchell and Boston remain the twin engines, with Howard as the third option and bench contributions critical on the road.
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