“New season starts on Sunday. Everybody’s 0-0… It’s do or die.” Those were Odyssey Sims’ words after the Indiana Fever punched their playoff ticket, but so far, the “new season” hasn’t lived up to the script. Indiana stumbled out of the gate with an 80-68 defeat, falling into the dreaded 0-1 hole. History isn’t on their side either. Last season, every team that won Game 1 in the first round went on to seal the series in Game 2.

The Fever were always going to start this one as underdogs. No Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, or Chloe Bibby—all out with season-ending injuries—despite that, they still managed to fight their way into the postseason as the No. 6 seed with a 24-20 record. On the other side, the Dream are flying high. They enter the 2025 WNBA Playoffs as the number 3 seed after a franchise-best 30-14 finish, a massive leap from their 15-25 struggles just a year ago.

Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard dropped 20 points each as the Dream owned the paint, putting up 40 inside points and outrebounding the Fever by four. With the series heating up, all eyes now shift to Game 2. Here’s everything you need to know heading into the matchup.

Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream: Where to Watch

Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Watch on: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo

Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream: Injury report

Indiana Fever

• Damiris Dantas – OUT
• Caitlin Clark – OUT OF THE SEASON
• Chloe Bibby – OUT OF THE SEASON
• Sophie Cunningham – OUT OF THE SEASON
• Sydney Colson – OUT OF THE SEASON

Atlanta Dream

• No injured players

Probable Starting Lineups

Indiana Fever

• Natasha Howard
• Aliyah Boston
• Odyssey Sims
• Kelsey Mitchell
• Lexie Hull

Atlanta Dream

• Brionna Jones
• Naz Hillmon
• Allisha Gray
• Jordin Canada
• Rhyne Howard

Prediction: Can the Fever Even the Series

With Caitlin Clark sidelined, Kelsey Mitchell has become the heartbeat of the Fever. The eight-year veteran is putting together the best season of her career, averaging 20.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while suiting up for all 44 games (averaging 31.4 mins) in a year when Indiana’s roster has been battered by injuries. Even in the last game against the Dream, Mitchell had 27 points and 4 assists.

But Mitchell alone can’t carry the Fever through the postseason. Much has been made about Indiana having more experience than the Dream, with Sydney Colson, Natasha Howard, Shey Peddy, and Aerial Powers all having lifted the trophy before. Add to that, the Fever’s starting five comes in with an average age of 29, slightly older and more seasoned than the Dream’s 27.8. But Dream have too much quality on their roster.

Players like Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard alone combined for 35.9 points per game in the regular season, while Brionna Jones and Naz Hillmon pulled down 13.5 rebounds a night. And that’s without even mentioning the spark Brittney Griner brings off the bench. Simply put, the Dream roster is stacked with talent, and, on paper, too, they’ve got more quality than the Fever.

The numbers lean toward Atlanta, too. The Dream boasts the league’s second-best offensive rating (108.2) and defensive rating (98.9). The Fever aren’t far behind offensively with the third-best mark (106.2), but their defense slips to seventh (101.8). Naturally, ESPN has Atlanta pegged as the favorite, but just barely, with a slim 51% edge. Why so close? Simple. Gainbridge Fieldhouse is going to be rocking, and the Fever faithful will do everything they can to make life miserable for the Dream.

The Dream’s depth proves too much, but can the Fever pull off a surprise in their home? Drop your predictions in the comments below!