A layup by Aliyah Boston, occurring with only 7.4 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter, propelled the Indiana Fever to an 87-85 triumph in Game 3 of their playoff series against the Atlanta Dream, resulting in an unexpected defeat for the WNBA’s No. 3 seed during the initial playoff round.
Odyssey Sims delivered a pass from beyond the 3-point arc to Boston, who was surprisingly unguarded near the basket, leading to the decisive score. This basket capped a comeback from an 85-80 deficit, which had arisen after Rhyne Howard made a 3-pointer with 2 minutes and 32 seconds remaining in regulation play.
Kelsey Mitchell spearheaded Indiana’s offense with 24 points, achieving a 3-for-6 success rate on 3-pointers. Sims contributed 16 points and provided 8 assists. Boston recorded 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists, making her a key player for the No. 6-seeded Fever.
The Fever concluded the first quarter leading 29-27. However, the Dream gained a 56-49 advantage by halftime, fueled by 3-pointers from Brionna Jones and Rhyne Howard, followed by a layup from Canada with 6.5 seconds remaining before the half.
Indiana reduced their deficit to 73-69 by the end of the third quarter, driven by six points from Natasha Howard and five from Boston. The Fever leveled the score at 80-80 with 3 minutes and 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter, thanks to a tip-in by Brianna Turner. After trailing 85-80, Indiana took the lead at 86-85 with baskets from Mitchell and Hull, leading up to Boston’s game-winning shot.
Allisha Gray amassed 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, topping the scoring charts for Atlanta. Canada provided 18 points and distributed 10 assists, while Rhyne Howard added 16 points.
Fever proceed to semifinals, navigating without Caitlin Clark
The Fever successfully reached the playoffs in spite of star player Caitlin Clark’s limited participation of just 13 games, as she battled quad and groin injuries. Ultimately, Clark announced her absence for the remainder of the season with only three regular-season games left, even as Indiana secured a spot in the WNBA playoffs.
Indiana’s return to the playoffs occurred the prior season, marking the end of a seven-year hiatus, largely due to Clark receiving WNBA Rookie of the Year recognition. Nonetheless, the Fever were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Connecticut Sun.
This prompted a series of significant changes during the offseason, with Stephanie White taking over as head coach, succeeding Christie Sides. The team welcomed Natasha Howard, DeWanna Bonner, and Sophie Cunningham, which generated excitement for the upcoming 2025 season.
Besides Clark, Indiana also experienced season-ending injuries to Chloe Bibby, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Aari McDonald. Consequently, the team signed Sims to a hardship contract, and she significantly aided the Fever, averaging 10.3 points.
“This team is truly unique,” Fever coach Stephanie White commented afterwards. “We reiterate it frequently, but the resilience, adaptability, welcoming and inclusive spirit of this team, their selflessness to prioritize the collective over individual achievements, and their ability to excel when it matters most, providing support to each other, is worth 12-15 points.
“I enjoy being with these players,” she added. “I love coaching them. And I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Atlanta’s season concludes with first-round playoff upset
In the previous season, the Dream concluded with a 15-25 record and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the New York Liberty, who ultimately claimed the WNBA championship.
Under the guidance of new head coach Karl Smesko, the team revamped its roster by acquiring veteran free agents Brittney Griner and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, alongside rookies Te-Hina Paopao and Shyanne Sellers. This influx of depth and talent, combined with the performances of Rhyne Howard, Jones, Gray, and Canada, led to a remarkable transformation, culminating in a 30-14 record and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.
The Dream’s improvement will undoubtedly be recognized once the disappointment of this first-round playoff loss, especially the decisive defeat on their home ground, diminishes.
“This is an unfortunate conclusion to a great game,” Smesko stated after the game. “I commend Indiana. They displayed resilience until the final moments, and regrettably, they managed to execute the last play.”
“At the moment, it is painful,” he continued. “Our goal was to secure a championship for Atlanta, and while that aim is postponed, it is disheartening because I had immense confidence in this team.”
The Fever are scheduled to compete against the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces after they won against the No. 7 Seattle Storm on Wednesday evening.
