On Sunday afternoon, the Indiana Fever showcased a dominant performance against the Seattle Storm, closing the game with a flawless fourth quarter. The Fever outscored the Storm 33-17, hitting 12-of-15 shots from the field, including 8-of-10 from beyond the arc, and dishing out 10 assists while holding Seattle to just 17 points.
Caitlin Clark stole the spotlight by breaking the WNBA’s rookie assist record, surpassing a milestone set by Ticha Penicheiro in 1998. However, the bigger takeaway from this game is the Fever’s emergence as a legitimate playoff threat. With a 5-0 record in their last five games against teams with winning records and an overall 11-6 run since starting the season 2-9, Indiana is rapidly climbing the ranks.
Only the Liberty, Lynx, and Aces have better records over this stretch, and the Fever’s offense, powered by Clark, has been nearly unstoppable. With a three-game lead over the ninth-place Atlanta Dream, the Fever are on track to end their seven-year playoff drought, dating back to 2016. Given the WNBA’s unique 2-1 playoff format, Indiana could be a dangerous underdog, especially if they steal a game on the road and force a deciding Game 3 at home. A must-win game in Indiana, with Clark leading the charge and the crowd behind them, would be a daunting challenge for any opponent.
1. New York Liberty
The Liberty have picked up right where they left off, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season. With three wins by at least 35 points, the Liberty have set a league record and have defeated the Aces twice on the road. They’ve been the standout team so far, and all eyes will be on them come playoff time.
2. Minnesota Lynx
Despite struggling before the break, the Lynx have rebounded with Napheesa Collier back in action. They secured back-to-back wins against the Mystics, extending their winning streak to three and putting them within half a game of the Sun in the race for the No. 2 seed.
3. Connecticut Sun
The Sun showed promise with Marina Mabrey in the lineup, scoring 109 points in a win over the Wings. However, their inconsistency was evident in a subsequent loss to the Dream. With the Lynx close behind, Connecticut’s push for the second seed will be challenging.
4. Las Vegas Aces
The Aces stumbled out of the break with a double-digit loss to the Liberty, dropping to 0-2 against last year’s Finals opponent. Their lack of depth is becoming a concern, especially with A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young shouldering heavy workloads.
5. Indiana Fever
The Fever are on a roll, winning five straight against teams with winning records since the Olympic break. Clark’s historic rookie season continues to fuel Indiana’s resurgence, making them a team to watch as the playoffs approach.
6. Seattle Storm
The Storm have had a rough restart, squandering a 14-point lead to the Dream and falling apart in the second half against the Fever. Their struggles from beyond the arc are alarming, as they’re last in the league with a 29.3% three-point shooting percentage.
7. Phoenix Mercury
The Mercury resumed their season with three games in four nights, securing two dominant wins over the Sky. However, they remain wary of the Fever, having lost to them three times this season.
8. Atlanta Dream
The Dream have turned things around, now fully healthy and capable of challenging for a playoff spot. Tina Charles’ buzzer-beater against the Storm and their upset over the Sun show they’re just 1.5 games back from the Sky.
9. Chicago Sky
The Sky’s offensive struggles continue, and without Marina Mabrey, they’ve been unable to find consistency. Despite Angel Reese’s impressive performances, including a near 20-20 game, the Sky face an uphill battle to secure a playoff spot.
10. Dallas Wings
Despite being healthier, the Wings’ playoff hopes took a hit with a crushing loss to the Sun. They’re now 4.5 games out of the final playoff spot, a deficit that may be too large to overcome.
11. Los Angeles Sparks
The Sparks returned to action with three games in four nights, including tough matchups against the Liberty and Aces. They’ve now lost four straight and may need to start looking ahead to next season.
12. Washington Mystics
Even with Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin back from injury, the Mystics remain at the bottom of the standings after two losses to the Lynx. On a positive note, Stefanie Dolson tied the WNBA record for most 3-pointers made in a game without a miss, going 6-for-6 on Sunday.
