The drought is over in Indiana.
After the Fever last qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in 2016, the All-Star trio of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell is leading the franchise back to the postseason in 2024.
It’s been a wild ride for Indiana, which has won 18 of 29 games following a brutal 1-8 start to the season. Before falling twice to the Aces, the Fever were above .500 for the first time since June 2019. They become just the second WNBA team to start a season 1-8 or worse and still make the playoffs, joining the now-defunct Charlotte Sting.
As the finish line nears, here is where the Fever stands in the WNBA standings and how they ended an eight-year playoff drought.
Standings through Saturday, Sept. 14.
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Indiana Fever updated WNBA playoff picture, standings
The Fever have jumped into the WNBA’s sixth seed and have a small shot to move to fifth, though they’ll need some help. Indiana won the season series with Phoenix (3-0) but lost the season series with Seattle (1-3). Based on WNBA tiebreak rules, the Fever would need to finish one full game ahead of the Storm to have a better seed.
X: Clinched playoffs
Eliminated from WNBA playoffs contention: Wings, Sparks
MORE: Caitlin Clark is having the second-best rookie season in WNBA history
If the WNBA season ended today…
The No. 6 Fever would face the No. 3 Sun in a best-of-three playoff series.
Indiana’s most likely playoff opponents are Connecticut and Minnesota. The Fever are 1-3 this season against the Sun and 1-2 against the Lynx.
MORE: Caitlin Clark is thriving with one of Allen Iverson’s old plays
Indiana Fever remaining schedule
The Fever have an advantageous schedule to close the season. While they faced the defending champion Aces twice in Indianapolis, the Fever plays its final game at home against the Wings before ending the season on the road in Washington—a game that could have major postseason implications for the Mystics.
X: Clinched playoffs
Eliminated from WNBA playoffs contention: Wings, Sparks
MORE: Caitlin Clark is having the second-best rookie season in WNBA history
If the WNBA season ended today…
The No. 6 Fever would face the No. 3 Sun in a best-of-three playoff series.
Indiana’s most likely playoff opponents are Connecticut and Minnesota. The Fever are 1-3 this season against the Sun and 1-2 against the Lynx.
MORE: Caitlin Clark is thriving with one of Allen Iverson’s old plays
Indiana Fever remaining schedule
The Fever have an advantageous schedule to close the season. While they faced the defending champion Aces twice in Indianapolis, the Fever plays its final game at home against the Wings before ending the season on the road in Washington—a game that could have major postseason implications for the Mystics.
Indiana Fever WNBA playoff-clinching scenarios
The Fever clinched a playoff berth on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Indiana will return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season.
The 2024 WNBA Playoffs begin on Sunday, Sept. 22.
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Indiana Fever WNBA playoff history
While the Fever faced a lengthy postseason drought, the franchise has a rich history of success. Here is a look back at the team’s history in the WNBA Playoffs, including a streak of 12 consecutive playoff appearances from 2005-16.
How many championships do the Indiana Fever have?
The Fever have won one WNBA championship.
Led by Tamika Catchings and Shavonte Zellous, Indiana defeated Minnesota, 3-1, in the 2012 WNBA Finals. Catchings was named WNBA Finals MVP.
Indiana is 1-2 all-time in the WNBA Finals. The franchise also advanced to the Finals in 2009-15 but came up short against the Mercury and Lynx, respectively.
WNBA playoff tiebreakers
The WNBA has five playoff seeding tiebreakers in place if two teams finish with the same record.
If there are more than two teams tied for the same seed, the tiebreakers are similar but have a slightly different twist:
