After a rough start to the season, the Fever are finally firmly established in the playoff picture. With a 16-12 record, they sit in fifth place. A string of wins and big performances from Kelsey Mitchell propelled the Fever from the bottom of the playoff standings to the middle.
The Fever’s next matchup against the Seattle Storm presents an opportunity to solidify their standing as a legitimate playoff threat, even with Caitlin Clark sidelined.
Seattle and Indiana have an identical record. The Fever currently sit above the Storm in the standings because they won the first matchup of the season. Winning this game would secure the season series for the Fever and potentially allow them to create some separation or even climb in the standings.
The playoff standings are incredibly close
Minnesota is the only team that has significantly separated itself from the rest of the playoff standings. The Lynx are six games ahead of the next-best team. After that, the standings are very close. Atlanta is only half a game behind New York, Phoenix is half a game behind Atlanta, and Indiana and Seattle are only half a game behind Phoenix.
Phoenix and New York have been struggling lately, blowing the playoff race wide open. The Fever now have an opportunity to further climb in the standings.
Indiana and Seattle are scheduled to meet three times this season. The Fever won the first meeting, so winning this matchup would secure the tiebreaker. Two games after facing Seattle, the Fever will have the opportunity to do the same against Phoenix. The Fever won the first game behind a 27-point effort from Aari McDonald. With two games left against the Mercury, winning the next game would give the Fever the tiebreaker.
Securing tiebreakers over Seattle and Phoenix would be huge for the final playoff standings. It may even allow the Fever to climb as high as the number-four seed.
The Fever have found a rhythm without Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark has been sidelined for most of the season. At first, it was a struggle for the team to play without its star point guard. By now, the rest of the roster has found a rhythm, winning four consecutive games for the first time in the season.
Kelsey Mitchell’s socring outburst has been a big reason for the Fever’s success. Aliyah Boston has also been a big-time presence. Moreover, Aari McDonald has been playing well, and the newly signed Chloe Bibby has been a revelation from behind the arc.