The Indiana Fever didn’t forget how ESPN had written them off in the 2025 WNBA playoffs. On September 13, ESPN published an article asking nine of its staff members, most of them regular women’s basketball reporters, to predict how every first-round matchup would go. When it came to the Fever versus the Atlanta Dream, every single one of them picked Atlanta to advance. Six predicted a clean sweep, while the other three gave the Fever a single win at most. But you couldn’t blame them for it– at least not then. 

On paper, the Fever looked like heavy underdogs. They were missing key players like Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, NaLyssa Smith, and others, while Atlanta entered the series with one of the league’s strongest rosters. But Game 3 proved that predictions and paper stats only tell part of the story. Against all odds, the Fever pulled off an unthinkable 87–85 victory, winning the series 2–1. 

The team wasted no time clapping back. Indiana Fever’s official Twitter and Instagram accounts shared a post listing the nine ESPN reporters who had doubted them: Malika Andrews, Sean Hurd, Myron Medcalf, Eric Moody, Marilyn Payne, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou, Andre Snellings, and Michael Voepel. The post was simple but pointed, especially with its “Now You Know” caption, not just for the reporters but also anyone who had underestimated them. 

Clark, true to her role as the team’s ultimate hype woman, reposted the message on her own Instagram story, making sure the statement reached every 3.6 million of her followers. The star guard had been sidelined through it all, yet the Fever managed to pull it off, and how.

The Fever had to battle back from a late deficit, down 85–80 with just over two minutes left. Atlanta, with one of the league’s top offenses, seemed poised to close the door. But Indiana locked in. Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull stepped up in crucial moments, and Aliyah Boston delivered the go-ahead bucket with just 7.4 seconds remaining. Hull then sealed the win with a perfectly timed interception, leaving the Dream scoreless in the final stretch. But for what it’s worth, not everyone on the list of doubters was offended. 

 WNBA insider Alexa Philippou responded with a sense of humor, reposting the Fever’s post on X with, “😅 touché,”. Perhaps even the analysts appreciate a good comeback story. And who knows, this entire episode could even tempt ESPN to do another prediction article for the WNBA Semifinals. 

On September 21, the Fever, riding their newfound wave of confidence, will face off against the Las Vegas Aces. Their host team, led by the formidable A’ja Wilson, is a powerhouse, having secured the No. 2 seed with a remarkable 18-1 record in their last 19 games. Wilson’s performance has been exceptional, including a career-high 38 points in a recent playoff game against the Seattle Storm– a team they defeated by just one point on Thursday night. 

This series marks the first-ever playoff meeting between the Fever and the Aces, adding yet another layer of unpredictability. But whatever the predictions may be, the Fever have already shown they thrive when the odds are against them; this match could be no different.