Despite a year filled with five season-ending injuries and multiple hardship contracts, the Indiana Fever secured a playoff spot following their 94-85 win over the Washington Mystics on Sept. 7.
Head coach Stephanie White jokingly referred to the team as her “gimpy MASH unit” as a photo of the injured Sydney Colson (ACL), Sophie Cunningham (ACL) and Aari McDonald (broken foot) went viral. The image featured a quizzical Colson and Cunningham with walking canes and leg braces as McDonald sat center in a motorized scooter.
Hilarity aside, the win also secured an above .500 record for the first time in a decade. The last time the Fever finished a season with more wins than losses, they went to the 2015 WNBA Championship, ultimately falling short to Hall of Famer Maya Moore and the Minnesota Lynx.
The 2015 Fever squad featured Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, Briann January and Natasha Howard.
White was also the head coach during their most recent championship run. January is now an assistant coach. Howard rejoined the team this season.
“I am proud of these women,” White said. “I am proud that we continue to raise the standard for ourselves and one another. The roots that have been grown throughout this season … when you can go through and grow through these type of experiences, it lays a foundation for championship culture and a championship mindset.”
The team holds the No. 7 seed, meaning the Fever will likely face reigning MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces. Should the Fever fall to the No. 8 seed, the battle pivots to 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx.
The Fever made a shallow playoff push in 2024, falling short to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round.
Following the win, forward Aerial Powers echoed sentiments made by all-star teammate Kelsey Mitchell: “We all we got and we all we need.”
The Fever end the 2025 WNBA season against the Minnesota Lynx on Sept. 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis. The playoffs begin Sept. 14.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Facebook and TikTok @HorsemenSportsMedia. For more Indiana Fever news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
