BALTIMORE — The Indiana Fever's 2025 campaign has been full of adversity, headlined by the loss of star Caitlin Clark and four other players to season-ending injuries, but their resolve paid off Sunday when they clinched one of two remaining playoff berths with a 94-65 drubbing of the Washington Mystics.
After a seven-year playoff drought following the retirement of franchise legend Tamika Catchings, Indiana has snagged consecutive postseason berths for the first time since making it each year from 2005 to 2016.
«We never doubted ourselves. We never doubted that we could be in the playoffs, even if things looked like it got harder,» said Aliyah Boston, the Fever's 2023 No. 1 pick who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds Sunday. «I think through everything, you're able to see us play with joy and stay together, regardless of who's on the floor.»
Coach Stephanie White said there was a healthy level of celebration in the locker room after their largest road win of the season, knowing they still have more work to do.
«With all the stuff that we've been through, most teams would have folded, and we just kept getting stronger,» White said. «These women in the locker room deserve a lot of credit for their ability to stay resilient, to stay together, to stay hungry and to stay the course.»
With one regular-season game remaining against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, the Fever will secure no worse than the No. 7 seed and would be the No. 6 seed if the Golden State Valkyries lose out.
The 23rd victory of the season also set a franchise record; the 2025 season is the longest in league history at 44 games. It also guarantees the team's first winning season since 2015.
After leading by just seven points at the half, the Fever
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