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Michael Voepel, senior editor at ESPN
Anyone who has followed the Indiana Fever’s struggles over the past few seasons will see the numbers flashing like neon: 17-16. For the first time in more than five years, the Fever have a winning record.
Last Monday, we wrote, “This week is a big one for the Fever’s playoff hopes, as three of their four games are on the road.” Indiana then rose to the occasion, beating Atlanta, Connecticut, Chicago and Dallas to earn the team a top-four spot in the latest ESPN WNBA Power Rankings.
The Fever currently have the longest winning streak in the league with four games. They haven’t yet secured a postseason spot, but they’re almost there.
Indiana’s 17 wins match the franchise’s three-season total of 2020, 2021 and 2022. Things improved last season with the signing of No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston, as the Fever won 13 games. Another No. 1 pick this season, Caitlin Clark, has transformed the team.
The last time Indiana was above .500 was June 13, 2019. The Fever were 4-3 then and finished the season 13-21. Clark was a rising high school junior, Boston was preparing for her freshman year at South Carolina and Kelsey Mitchell was in her second season at Indiana. Now they’re all playing big roles in the revival of the Fever, whose last winning season was 2015 and whose last playoff appearance was 2016.
Think back to three months ago: Indiana’s players woke up on June 1, 1-8, after a painful start to the season. But they picked up their second win that day. There were still bumps in the road, but the recovery process had begun.
Indiana was 11-15 during the All-Star/Olympic break. Since resuming play after the Paris Games, the Fever are 6-1. They have defeated every other WNBA team at least once this season, except defending champion Las Vegas, which travels to Indianapolis for two games on Sept. 11 and 13.
Mitchell is in her seventh WNBA season and shining in her first full-fledged playoff run. She has now scored 20 or more points seven times in a row, which is a franchise record — including 36 points on Sunday in a 100-93 win at Dallas — and has averaged 26.7 points per game in those games. Clark has averaged 24.6 points and 9.0 assists in the same seven-game series.
This season, Mitchell (19.0 points per game) and Clark (18.7) are the Fever’s leading scorers. Boston ranks third in that category (13.4) and is first in rebounds (9.0) and blocks (1.4).
The Fever have seven regular-season games left, with the next six in a row at home. Speaking of changes, Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse has gone from a nearly dead city in 2022 to the WNBA’s best attendance in 2024, with nearly 17,000 fans per game.
For coach Christie Sides, who had to endure many attacks from frustrated fans at the beginning of the season, it was gratifying to see the development of the players.
“We always talk about emptying the tank,” Sides said of the effort the Fever puts into each game. “We always talk about building momentum and continuing to go full throttle.”
Previous placements: Preseason | May 20 | May 27 | June 3 | June 10 | June 17 | June 24 | July 1 | July 8 | July 15 | August 19 | August 26
Previous placement: 1
This week: against SEA (5 September), against LV (8 September)
Can the first-place team lose to the last-place team? That’s what happened on Wednesday, when New York lost 94-88 in Los Angeles. It showed the impact Jonquel Jones has on the Liberty since she missed playing because of an illness. She was back in Friday’s 98-85 win in Seattle, grabbing 11 rebounds. In other good news for New York, guard/forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton returned from knee surgery to play all three games last week, her first game since July 6. Overall, the Liberty (who also beat Phoenix) went 2-1 to stay on top.
Previous placement: 3
This week: vs SEA (September 3), vs LV (September 6), @ LA (September 8)
The Sun lost at Indiana last week, but rebounded with wins over Washington and Seattle. Forward Alyssa Thomas was injured against both the Mystics and Storm (leg injury), but still had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists against Seattle on Sunday. Guard Marina Mabrey, who was acquired via transfer on July 17, continues to help the Sun, scoring 52 points in last week’s three games. Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner also reached a milestone, moving into fourth place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list.
Previous placement: 2
This week: @ IND (September 6), @ WAS (September 8)
The Lynx’s 94-76 loss in Dallas on Friday was not as surprising as the Liberty’s loss in Los Angeles earlier in the week. Dallas has clearly improved a lot since the Olympic break. Still, it was one of the Lynx’s few “boring” games this season and it ended their seven-game winning streak. Minnesota bounced back with a win against Chicago on Sunday, with guard Courtney Williams tying her season high with 22 points.
Previous placement: 5
This week: LA (September 4th), vs. MIN (September 6th), vs. ATL (September 8th)
As good as Mitchell, Clark and Boston have been, the rest of the Fever is contributing as well. NaLyssa Smith has scored in double figures in her last three games. Lexie Hull, known for her relentless defense, has scored in double figures in four of the Fever’s last seven games. Hull only did that twice in Indiana’s first 26 games. Damiris Dantas and Temi Fagbenle are veteran leaders who have really stepped up the bench.
Previous: 4
This week: vs CHI (September 3), @ CON (September 6), @ NY (September 8)
The Aces are 4-4 since the Olympic break ended, including a 93-90 loss last Tuesday in Dallas, despite 42 points from star A’ja Wilson. Coach Becky Hammon has been blunt about the team’s defense not being good enough. Subsequent wins over Atlanta and Phoenix were what the Aces needed. Wilson scored 41 points against the Mercury; in three games in Las Vegas last week, she totaled 109 points and 39 rebounds.
Previous placement: 6
This week: @CON (September 3rd), @NY (September 5th), vs. PHO (September 7th)
Speaking of teams worried about their defense, the Storm are 1-3 last week. Normally, that would mean a drop in the Power Rankings. But the team directly below the Storm in the Power Rankings – Phoenix – hasn’t done anything to move up. Seattle has secured a playoff spot but wants to play much better. “It’s not that people are complacent, but I don’t think we’re playing with the effort we need to,” veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike said Sunday after a loss at Connecticut.
Previous placement: 7
This week: This week: vs. ATL (September 3), vs. WAS (September 5), @ SEA (September 7)
The Mercury could have made a statement last week, but they didn’t. Instead, they lost three home games: to New York, Minnesota and Las Vegas. Phoenix has amassed enough wins that the playoffs seem almost certain, but the Mercury just aren’t playing well right now.
Previous placement: 11
This week: This week: vs. WAS (September 3), @ ATL (September 6), @ CHI (September 8)
The Wings have won their last four games 3-1, including victories over Las Vegas and Minnesota. On Sunday, they came close to beating Indiana for the second time this season. But the Fever held on, 100-93, despite Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale making a WNBA record nine 3-pointers and scoring 34 points. The Wings’ Satou Sabally has been very good in her seven games since returning to the WNBA after the Olympics, averaging 20.6 points per game. Time is running out, but Dallas could still make the playoffs.
Previous placement: 8
This week: @PHO (September 3rd), vs. DAL (September 6th), @IND (September 8th)
After winning their first three games after the Olympic break, the Dream lost the next four. That losing streak ended on Sunday with a win in Los Angeles that Atlanta desperately needed. Now Atlanta is tied with Chicago for the eighth and final playoff spot. Veteran center Tina Charles has done everything she can to lead the Dream, including a double-double on Sunday.
Previous placement: 10
This week: @DAL (September 3rd), @PHO (September 5th) vs. MIN (September 8th)
Like Dallas, the Mystics (2-1 last week) have made a comeback, although it may be too late for the playoffs. However, they are still fighting for a spot, which is quite an accomplishment considering the number of injuries Washington has dealt with this season.
Previous placement: 9
This week: @ LV (September 3rd), vs. LA (September 6th), vs. DAL (September 8th)
The Sky are still in playoff position despite six straight losses and seven of eight games since the Olympic break. Guard Chennedy Carter, Chicago’s leading scorer, had to sit out due to health and safety regulations. She did not play in the Sky’s three losses to Washington, Indiana and Minnesota last week. Rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso had one of their best games against the Lynx on Sunday with 39 points and 28 rebounds, but it still wasn’t enough. The Sky need to get back on track quickly.
Previous placement: 12
This week: @IND (September 4th), @CHI (September 6th), vs. CON (September 8th)
Coach Curt Miller made it clear that the Sparks are doing everything they can to win, not just hoping for another lottery draft pick next year. The team backed him up with a 94-88 win over New York last week that ended a seven-game losing streak, but then followed that with a loss to Atlanta. The Sparks already have the franchise’s most losses in a season with 25 games left.
