Fever reach WNBA semifinals for first time since 2015 despite Caitlin Clark's injury

Indiana Fever advanced to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2015, defeating the Atlanta Dream 87-85 in Game 3 of their first-round series at Gateway Center Arena in College Park. The Fever did it without star Caitlin Clark, who announced earlier this month that she would miss the remainder of the season after a groin injury that sidelined her in the weeks leading up to the All-Star break. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 24 points, while Aliyah Boston added 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Odyssey Sims contributed 16 points and eight assists, and Natasha Howard added 12 points for the Fever. Sophie Cunningham has also been nursing an injury as Indiana relied on its depth to clinch the series.

Boston delivered the go-ahead basket with 7.4 seconds remaining, and Lexie Hull intercepted the inbound pass to seal the win. Indiana closed on a 7-0 run in the final minutes, erasing a late deficit after Brionna Jones went to the ground on a loose-ball play. Griner scored five points and grabbed eight rebounds for Atlanta, but Clark’s absence loomed large as Indiana secured its place in the semifinals for the first time in a decade.

Clark’s season has been plagued by injuries; he was sidelined after a groin injury that cost her the remainder of the 2025 campaign. She appeared in just 13 games this year for the Fever, after dealing with a quad strain earlier in the year. Indiana’s star rookie, Clark, who went into the season as a preseason MVP favorite, finished with modest counting numbers for the year, while the Fever leaned on Mitchell, Boston and the veteran backcourt to push through the series.

The Fever, seeded sixth in the playoffs, will face the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces in the next round. The Aces have appeared in three of the last five WNBA Finals, underscoring the challenge Indiana will meet in its cross-country matchup. Boston’s late‑game basket and Hull’s defensive play helped underscore Indiana’s resilience this season, a theme that carried them through to this pivotal victory.

Boston, who had a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the win, will carry much of the Fever’s confidence into the semifinals against Las Vegas. Griner’s production for Atlanta provided a counterpunch, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Indiana’s balanced attack and timely defense. With the series in the rearview, Indiana eyes its second consecutive postseason win against a high-profile opponent as it continues to build toward its long-term goals in the league.