The Indiana Fever, dubbed the “most resilient team” to make it to the playoffs, is now on the brink of elimination. With one of their frontcourt players sidelined by concussion protocol, on top of multiple injuries and roster challenges, they suffered an 80–68 loss in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Dream. Being on the road was part of the problem, but with Game 2 at home, the team has issued a call to arms.

GM Amber Cox said it first. Taking to her X account, she retweeted the Game 2 announcement, saying “A long time coming, Fever Faithful – let’s make sure Gainbridge Fieldhouse is rockin!” The team picked up from thereon. 

A video posted by the Indiana Fever to their official X account featured Caitlin Clark faced with the question of what her message for Indianapolis is ahead of Game 2. Echoing what their GM’s plea, she animatedly addressed her fans: “First home game since 2016..I need to see every single person in Indianapolis, whether you’re inside the arena, could be outside of the arena, I don’t care. Show up. Get loud for my teammates. We need to get a dub and then we’re taking back to Atlanta. LET’S GOOOOOO!” Following her lead, Natasha Howard added: 

“Get loud fans, we need you! We need you tomorrow night. Get loud! Get on your feet!” Several other Fever players also sent similar passionate messages in the video, trying to hype their home crowd. After the similar challenges they faced last season, when they couldn’t even host a playoff game, the fans probably need this energy just as much.

Last year, the Fever finally broke their long drought and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, but the sting of Game 1 versus Connecticut still lingers. In that 2024 first-round matchup, the Connecticut Sun handed Indiana a 93-69 loss in Game 1 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Fever dug deep but couldn’t close the gap over the second half, and just like this season, stepping onto the road to open the playoffs proved costly.

There was also the painful reality that, under the format then, Indiana didn’t get the chance to host a playoff game unless they forced a Game 3— and in 2024, they couldn’t. The higher seed (Connecticut) had both Games 1 and 2 at home, which meant Indiana never had a home crowd to lean on unless they won on the road to push things to a third game.

This season is different in ways that give the Fever hope. As Caitlin Clark has pointed out, “The main thing we were lacking last year was experience.” The team bolstered its roster with veterans like Natasha Howard and DeWanna Bonner to help with the playoff grind. And with the new 1-1-1 playoff format, Game 2 will be on their home floor. 

Given Clark’s influence, it won’t be unfair to expect Gainbridge Fieldhouse Arena to be a full house on Tuesday night. And for a team with their backs against the wall after a blowout loss in a structure that’s new but eerily reminds them of last season, this could be a shot at redemption.