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Dream defense stifles Fever in WNBA playoffs
USA TODAY’s Meghan Hall reports from Atlanta on the Dream shutting down the Indiana Fever with ten steals and six blocks in playoff opener in Atlanta.
Sports Pulse
The injury-plagued Indiana Fever have been resilient all season long, but the Fever find themselves with their backs are against the wall yet again.
The No. 6 seed Fever dropped Game 1 against the No. 3 seed Atlanta Dream 80-68, despite a 27-point performance from veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell. The Fever now must win Game 2 of the best-of-three first-round WNBA playoff series on Tuesday to keep their Cinderella season alive.
“We shot ourselves in the foot and weren’t able to capitalize on the things that make us great,” Mitchell said after the Game 1 loss. “We hurt ourselves in a lot of different areas that impact being able to make plays and do what we wanted on the offensive end. Once we stop doing that, we give ourselves more of a chance to be who we are.”
It wasn’t a particularly great shooting night for either team. The Fever were held to 34.9% from the field and 2-of-15 from beyond the arc, compared to Atlanta going 38.6% from the field with seven made 3s.
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Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard each scored 20 points for the Dream. Naz Hillmon added 16 points and nine rebounds, while Brionna Jones had 12 points and three steals in the win.
Follow along with USA TODAY Sports for live updates on Game 2 between the Dream and Fever:
Indiana Fever score today
Two Indiana Fever fans were escorted from their courtside seats at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the fourth quarter after appearing to say something to Dream guard Allisha Gray. The incident happened with 6:10 remaining in the game as the Dream trailed the Fever 71-47. Gray alerted arena security of the fan’s behavior and looked visibly upset after the exchange. After the incident, Gray was comforted by teammate Rhyne Howard on the bench.
Guard Lexie Hull knocked down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the third quarter on a 7-0 run and extend the Fever’s lead to 15-points, their largest of the series. Hull’s open shot was made possible by Shey Peddy’s inbound steal, highlighting the do-or-die mentality of the Fever. Kelsey Mitchell has a game-high 19 points and Aliyah Boston has added eight points and five rebounds.
Rhyne Howard is the leading scorer on the Dream with 10 points. No other Dream player has surpassed double digits. The Dream is shooting 38.8% from the field and is 1-of-13 from the 3-point line.
Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton pulled up to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to cheer on the Fever on Wednesday. Haliburton is just returning the favor. Caitlin Clark and several Fever players, including Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston, attended multiple NBA playoff games in support of the Pacers during the team’s NBA Finals run.
Dream forward Naz Hillmon picked up her third personal foul with 6:48 remaining in the third quarter as the Dream trailed the Fever 35-40. Hillmon grabbed a defensive rebound and caught Fever forward Natasha Howard in the face with her elbow while swinging her arm. The foul was reviewed for a possible upgrade, but was ultimately deemed a common foul. Hillmon picked up her fourth foul with 5:37 remaining in the third.
Atlanta’s Brionna Jones has three fouls, while Lexie Hull has four for the Fever.
A WNBA player is disqualified from the game after picking up their sixth personal foul.
The Fever led by as many as 11 points in the second quarter and, despite several runs from the Dream, take a six-point lead into halftime.
Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (11) is the leader scorer, shooting 3-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from the 3-point line. Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston each added six points.
Meanwhile, Atlanta is struggling to find its offensive rhythm. The Dream are shooting 39.4% from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc in the first half after missing their first eight 3-point attempts. Atlanta has also left points on the board at the free throw line, shooting 2-of-6. Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, who combined for 40 points in Atlanta’s Game 1 win, have been held in check so far. Howard has six points (2-of-7 FG, 0-of-3 3PT) and Gray has five points (2-of-9 FG, 1-of-3 3PT).
Both teams are dealing with foul trouble. Lexie Hull has three fouls and Howard and Boston each have two fouls for the Fever. Atlanta’s Naz Hillmon and Brionna Jones each have two fouls.
Fever stars dealing with foul trouble
The Fever went on a 10-2 run in the second quarter to take an 11-point lead over the Dream, their largest lead of the game, with 4:06 remaining in the half. The run is even more impressive considering Fever center Aliyah Boston had to sit with 6:34 remaining after picking up her second personal foul. Natasha Howard and Lexi Hull also have two fouls each.
The Fever have a six-point lead heading into the second quarter.
Kelsey Mitchell has a game-high eight points for the Fever. Lexie Hull added four points, but was limited to five minutes in the first quarter after picking up two quick fouls. Shey Peddy and Aerial Powers each added three points off the bench.
All of the Dream’s 14 first-quarter points were scored in the paint. Brionna Jones has a team-high six points and two steals. Jordin Canada added four points and two assists. Rhyne Howard was held scoreless (0-of-2 FG), while Allisha Gray scored two points. The Dream are 0-of-3 from the 3-point line, while the Fever are 3-of-6 from 3.
Game 2 is underway at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the Fever have a 11-8 lead with 4:46 remaining in the first quarter. Jordin Canada and Brionna Jones combined for the Dream’s eight first-quarter points, which all came in the paint. Kelsey Mitchell leads the Fever with five points, while Lexie Hull added four points. Hull is already in foul trouble with two fouls and headed to the bench early.
What time is Atlanta Dream at Indiana Fever?
The Indiana Fever host the Atlanta Dream at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Atlanta coach of the Year candidate Karl Smesko moved veteran center Brittney Griner to the bench for the first time in her career during the regular season, a risky move that has paid off. Atlanta’s bench only averaged 19.2 points per game in the regular season, fourth-worst in the league, but Griner’s addition has added another dimension to the Dream’s bench. Griner had 17 points and four blocks off the bench in the Dream’s regular-season finale win over the Connecticut Sun, but was held to two points in Game 1 vs. the Fever.
Atlanta Dream starting lineup
Head coach: Karl Smesko
Indiana Fever starting lineup
Head coach: Stephanie White
Indiana Fever injury report: Is Caitlin Clark playing tonight?
The Fever will be without Chloe Bibby (left knee), Caitlin Clark (right groin), Sydney Colson (left knee), Sophie Cunningham (right knee), Damiris Dantas (concussion protocol) and Aari McDonald (right foot) for Game 2 vs. the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.
Indiana Fever stars arrive for Game 2
The Indiana Fever have arrived in style to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which is hosting a “red out” for Game 2.
Atlanta Dream is in the building
The Dream have arrived to Gainbridge Fieldhouse and are “ready to take care of business.”
Atlanta Dream injury report
The Dream have all players available for Game 2.
Indiana Fever ‘Stranger Things’ jerseys
The Indiana Fever will don their “Stranger Things” alternate uniforms for Game 2 of the WNBA Playoffs.
The Netflix series “Stranger Things” – which is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana – will stream its final season on Netflix in three parts starting on Nov. 26. The jersey features Demogorgon claw accents, and “011” on the waistband, referencing the character, Eleven, portrayed by actress Millie Bobby Brown.
The team first wore the jersey with the “Stranger Things” font on the front in 2021.
Where to watch Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever: TV, stream
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT)Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)TV channel: ESPNStreaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
Atlanta vs. Indiana WNBA playoffs schedule
Game 1: Dream 80, Fever 68Game 2: Dream at Fever, 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN)Game 3: Fever at Dream, TBD Thursday (ESPN2)
Allisha Gray stats
Allisha Gray averaged career highs in points (18.4), rebounds (5.3) and assists (3.5) in 42 games (all starts) this season. She had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, three steals and one block in the Dream’s Game 1 win.
Aliyah Boston stats
Boston, the 2023 WNBA rookie of the year, averaged a career-high 15 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 44 games this season. She recorded eight points, 12 rebound and five assists in 34 minutes of work in the Fever’s Game 1 loss on Sunday.
Kelsey Mitchell stats
Kelsey Mitchell averaged 20.2 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 44 games (all starts) this season. Mitchell dropped a game-high 27 points, four assists and one rebounds in the Fever’s Game 1 loss.
Caitlin Clark injury timeline
May 24: Clark suffered a left quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, where she recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Clark couldn’t pinpoint the specific play that caused her injury, but noted that it happened early in the contest. Clark said, “Adrenaline covers up a lot of stuff when you’re in the heat of battle. After the game, I had some pain, and then we got an MRI, and that kind of gave me the result that I didn’t want to see.” She missed the Fever’s next five games.June 14: Clark returned to Indiana’s lineup in the Fever’s 102-88 win over the Liberty and dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. June 24: Clark suffered a left groin injury in the Fever’s 94-86 winover the Seattle Storm, which resulted in Clark missing the team’s next four games. Fever coach Stephanie White said she learned of Clark’s groin injury the following night after Clark alerted team trainers of discomfort.July 1: Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s 2025 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. That didn’t stop Clark from rightfully celebrating the team’s hardware.July 9: Clark returned to the Fever’s lineup in the Fever’s 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Clark was limited to 10 points, shooting 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line, and had six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers. Following the blowout loss, Clark said it was “going to take me a second to get my wind back. … Just trying to get my legs under me.”July 15: Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston. White later confirmed Clark “felt a little something in her groin.” This marked the last game for which Clark suited up.July 18: Clark announced that she would sit out the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where she was named a team captain. Clark was also set to participate in the 3-point contest. She said, “I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate … I have to rest my body.”July 24: The Fever said Clark’s medical evaluations confirmed there’s “no additional injuries or damage,” but the team said it will be cautious with Clark’s rehab and recovery.Aug. 7: Clark reportedly suffered a mild bone bruise in her left ankle during an individual workout session in Phoenix, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.Aug. 8: During an appearance on Sue Bird’s podcast, “Bird’s Eye View,” Clark spoke about the frustrations of her injury-filled season: “It’s not like I have a training camp to build up to play in my first game again. It’s like no, you’re tossed into Game 30 — like, ‘Go try to play well.’ It’s hard, it really is.”Aug. 10: Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark has progressed in her recovery and has started running full court again, but Clark hasn’t returned to practice just yet: an important step in her ramp-up. “She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with all of her body weight. … She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice yet,” White said.Aug. 20: White confirmed that Clark has not returned to practice yet.Aug. 24: Clark participated in a team shootaround and went through some non-contact drills with the second team, marking her first time practicing with the team since suffering a right groin injury on July 15.Sept. 4: Clark shared a post on her official X account, stating that she will miss the rest of the regular season and any potential postseason action.
When is the WNBA MVP announced 2025?
The Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player will be announced on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Indiana Fever roster
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