The Indiana Fever weren’t supposed to survive this long. Ravaged by injuries, outmatched on paper, and staring down the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces, most expected their run to end early. Instead, they forced a winner-take-all Game 5 with a 90–83 victory in Indianapolis. And in the postgame presser, head coach Stephanie White delivered just ten words that doubled as both confidence and caution:

We’ve been through everything so being in these types of situations isn’t new to us.”

It wasn’t just a throwaway line. The Fever have already won three elimination games this postseason, twice against Atlanta in the first round and again against Vegas in Game 4. Every time their backs have been to the wall, they’ve responded. History, as White hinted, is on their side.

Even when they met the two-time WNBA champions, they stole Game 1 on the road, which again was unexpected. From there, Indy dropped two consecutive games and was on the edge of elimination once again, but they responded with a win in Game 4 to send the series back to Vegas for a winner-take-all Game 5.

But doing so hadn’t been easy for the squad. As Fever GM Amber Cox shared: “They have just overcome so much, and have done so with so much grace and class and grit, and they’ve just really been an inspiration to the city and to all of us who have been a part of it.”

That grit has been tested from the start. Indiana entered the playoffs missing five players to season-ending injuries, even resorting to adding an 18th hardship player to stay afloat. Yet instead of folding, the roster leaned harder into its team-first mantra. “We over me… That has been our identity the entire season,” said Aliyah Boston. “Whether you’re hurt or whether you’re not, everything you do is for the betterment of this team.”

It shows. In Game 4, Odyssey Sims poured in 18 points, Boston attacked the line for 10-of-13 free throws, Lexie Hull contributed seven rebounds and four steals, and Kelsey Mitchell dished four assists while stretching Vegas’ defense. Everyone had a hand in the win.

But can Indy replicate a win in Game 5 too?

With just 30.1 seconds left on the clock, chaos struck. The Aces mistakenly burned an extra timeout, handing Indiana a technical free throw and possession. Well, it’s a kind of blunder you don’t expect from two-time WNBA champions, right? So Becky Hammon didn’t sugarcoat it, “It was a good old-fashioned mistake.” she admitted. 

Right coach, especially when that slip-up proved costly to Aces. As Indy converted all three, it stretched the lead to 87-77, and from there, the Fever never looked back, closing it out 90-83. And, even A’ja Wilson’s monster 31-point night wasn’t enough to save Vegas.

For Indiana, Sunday in Vegas offers more than just survival; it’s a shot at their first Finals appearance since 2015, the same year White began her first stint with the franchise. For the Aces, it’s about proving their pedigree as back-to-back champs, with Wilson still the most dominant force on the floor.

White’s ten words carried weight for a reason. The Fever may not have the healthiest roster or the brightest star, but they have the scars, the resilience, and the belief that elimination is nothing new. Game 5 will show whether that’s enough to topple the champs in their own house.