Brutal stretch for Fever is set to make or break their season

Hopes were incredibly high for the Indiana Fever coming into 2025. They now have a coach with a winning history and brought in several experienced and talented pieces. However, through 13 games, the season has not lived up to the expectations.

The Fever are 0-2 on their west coast trip after another heartbreaking loss to the Las Vegas Aces Sunday that dropped them yet again below .500 on the season.

Things won't get any easier for them as they face a brutal stretch of games. The Fever play three games over the next four days beginning Tuesday in Seattle to complete their road trip.

The team can't get home fast enough. Their record at Gainbridge is 4-3, although still not an outstanding at-home record, they haven't fared well on the road either (2-4). Currently sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference was not what fans or the Fever expected.

The top eight teams earn playoff rights at the end of the season and the Fever find themselves sitting at the seventh spot. The Aces, whom they just lost to, are sitting right behind them in the overall standings and are beginning to heat up due to the return of A'ja Wilson. So, Sunday's loss was very impactful. Where do the Fever go from here?

No one has yet seen the fully capable Indiana Fever

Although panic may be starting to set in amongst Fever fans, the season isn't a complete loss, at least not yet. It's still early and luckily the two of their next three games are against struggling teams - Los Angeles Sparks and the Dallas Wings, both whom sit at the very bottom of the standings.

Perhaps the Fever can use both of those games to get themselves back on track. If they are not successful at doing so, things won't get any easier.

A wrench was thrown in their schedule due to having to play in the Commissioner's Cup championship against the Minnesota Lynx. Why is playing in a championship game with money incentives a bad thing?

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Well, it takes away what would have been almost a full week of rest for the Fever. Now they have to travel and play against a big and physical Lynx team who as it stands currently, sits at the very top of the WNBA. Fatigue is a legit concern for them going into this long stretch of games. It was clear in their last two games that they didn't seem full speed.

Things haven't quite clicked for the Fever just yet. It's difficult to be able to fully evaluate their capabilities yet. Head coach Stephanie White hasn't been able to put a complete team on the court. Injuries have plagued the Fever with Caitlin Clark, Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham, all impactful players having to miss significant time already this season.

And now, there is uncertainty surrounding veteran piece DeWanna Bonner. To add the cherry on top, the Fever are due to lose Damiris Dantas to EuroBasket play as of Tuesday as well.

The Fever have the pieces and tools to be a true contender in what was labeled as a championship or bust season. With the door of opportunity seemingly starting to close, White will need to dive deep into her bag of tricks to create a winning formula for the players she does have - all whom are plenty capable in helping make a strong run.

They need to find their true identity fast, because the level of competition just gets deeper from here.