When head coach Stephanie White took over the reins of the Indiana Fever, she brought in a strategy that seemed like a winning mantra from Day 1—prioritizing defensive intensity. And it quickly became evident during training camp, as the team welcomed veterans like DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sydney Colson, and Brianna Turner. The vision was clear, and Coach White put it best: “Defend if you want to be on the floor.” The focus was on ball pressure, helping defense, and relentless effort. That mindset helped the Fever kick off their season strong against the Chicago Sky, holding them to just 29.1% shooting while racking up 10 blocks. But despite this defensive foundation, the Fever still found themselves sitting below No. 6 in the WNBA rankings—a tough pill to swallow for a team driven by hunger and high expectations. Does that mean it’s time to change the approach?

Not really. So, while Fever simply faced a stretch of setbacks at first, it was CC, Sophie, and Syd who went down with injuries. Then came the surprise mid-season waiving of DeWanna Bonner. And just when it seemed things were stabilizing with Aari McDonald signing on for the rest of the season, CC went down again with a left groin injury. And we’d already seen the impact of her absence earlier, with the team losing three straight games when she was sidelined.

But to everyone’s surprise, this time Fever not only held their ground, they started stacking wins. At first, came the upset over the top-ranked and defending champs, the Minnesota Lynx, in the Commissioner’s Cup Final, earning a $500,000 prize and the franchise’s first-ever title. And not just that, they followed that up with a dominant 81–54 blowout of the Las Vegas Aces. All, thanks to the dynamic duo of Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, who each poured in 20+ points, the Fever steamrolled the Aces. But this win wasn’t just about offensive fireworks. It was Indiana’s defense that truly shined, fueling a 27-point, wire-to-wire win over the two-time WNBA champs. And Mitchell summed it up perfectly, and it’s especially meaningful coming from the only player still on the Fever roster who was part of their last win over the Aces back in 2019.

“Defensively we just want to be as sound as we need to be to get whatever we want offensively,” Mitchell said. “I think our coaches have made that clear, that whenever we can defend and do what we need to do, we can get whatever we want [on offense].” And sound they were as the Aces shot just 26%, with three-time MVP A’ja Wilson going 6-for-13, while the rest of the team went a dismal 2-for-18. Even though Vegas came out more aggressive in the second half by scoring their first six points from the foul line, it was Hull and Mitchell’s three-pointers that pushed Indiana to a 68–47 lead after three quarters.

But, beyond the win, the night marked a couple of milestones for the Fever. It’s because AB overtook Lyss for fifth place on the franchise’s all-time rebounds list, with 823 total boards, 134 of which have come in just 16 games this season, all while averaging 8.2 rebounds per game.

And yes, she wasn’t the only one making history as Mitchell too recorded her 700th career assist, continuing a stellar stretch where she’s averaging 23 points and over four assists per game across her last five outings. But her numbers aren’t just a solo effort—Sophie Cunningham acknowledged after the Lynx game that the team is making a concerted effort to ensure “she gets the ball.” So it makes sense why Stephanie White proudly stated, “I think our players [are] feeling that sense of the reward that comes with buying into being relentless on the defensive end of the floor.” And yes, she’s right—it has clearly reflected in the Fever’s last two games.

Even without Caitlin Clark, the Fever’s starting five combined for 58 points against the Lynx, just one shy of Minnesota’s entire team total. That game also marked the fewest points the Lynx have been held to all season, thanks to Indiana’s suffocating defense. So even without CC, the Fever found enough rim pressure and ball movement to present a serious threat. Now, it’s clear, after 17 games, Stephanie White’s day-one defensive mindset is finally becoming Indiana’s on-court reality. But, it wasn’t as easy as it may seem to be, though!

LV Aces are no slouches but the Fever proves they’re no longer the underdogs

No doubt, the Las Vegas Aces remain a legitimate championship contender in the 2025 WNBA season. With three-time MVP A’ja Wilson, Jewell Loyd—who arrived in a blockbuster trade—and Chelsea Gray, their Big 3 is more than capable of taking over games at any moment. And when the Fever took the court against them, they knew exactly what they were up against.

“We know that the Aces come with heavy hitters, and you can’t stop greatness, but you can limit it where you can,” Kelsey Mitchell shared. And yes, it made sense—Wilson poured in a game-high 29 points. But the problem? She didn’t get much help. No other Ace managed to crack double digits, leaving Wilson to carry the offensive load almost entirely on her own.

Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever leaned into a true team effort. Natasha Howard, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston all scored in double digits, while Aari McDonald added 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. And while her stat line didn’t scream for attention, it certainly made an impact—even Tyrese Haliburton tweeted about getting Aari’s jersey after she blocked Wilson.

So you know the kind of dominance she’s been showing. Now, the Fever will look ahead to take on the LA Sparks in Game 5 of their homestand. The big question is: Can they keep this momentum going? Even when Caitlin Clark returns to the court?