The Indiana Fever’s 2025 season has suddenly become one for the books, with its own twists and turns. And it’s all coming to a head with the current matchup: Game 3 in Atlanta is now the elimination game, just as Game 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was. But the game at home was a memorable one for the Fever. After a long stretch of disappointment, Indiana finally won a postseason game at home, their first since 2015.

However, to get here was no easy task. Five of their key players were out mid-season. Many expected that without so many key players, Indiana might collapse down the stretch. But instead, they closed out the regular season strong, finishing 24-20, a franchise-record number of wins, to clinch the sixth seed. Now they head into Game 3 in Atlanta, a do-or-die one, aiming to finally clinch a playoff series. The stakes couldn’t be higher, especially given how much was lost this season to injury, yet how much more remains to be gained.

Talking about how it affects the locker room, Indiana Fever player Lexie Hull put on a candid response. “I feel like because we’ve been in the locker room where we’ve had tears and people crying and circumstances that you don’t want anyone to have to go through, and we’ve gone through those together. People have counted us out all season long with the injuries we’ve had. And I think that has brought us closer together and to prove people wrong,” she said.

Hull also pointed out that despite the emotions running high in the locker room, they will give their best out there against Atlanta in Game 3. She said, “To show that it doesn’t matter if we’re out on the court or not. We love each other. We care for each other. We’re going to fight for each other. And we’re just going to put our best product out there.”

The fall and rise of the Indiana Fever this season is a case study. They dealt with a wave of season-ending injuries, starting with star guard Caitlin Clark, who only played 13 games this season. Players like Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald, Chloe Bibby, and Sydney Colson also soon joined in. When you thought the wave was over, a strong player off the bench, Damiris Dantas, was sent out of the team due to concussion protocol.

The final whistle of Game 1 came bearing bad news, 80-68. It looked like the injuries and surmounting Atlanta had finally caught up to the depleted Indiana roster. Fever only managed 22 out of the 63 shots with 34.9 percent shooting. Beyond the arc, their percentages dropped to 13.3 percent with 2 of 15 shooting. With all hopes lost, Indiana looked like the first exit of the postseason.

But like what they have been doing all season, the Fever clawed their way out of the mess. They looked like a new team in Game 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. And the stats tell the truth. Their beyond-the-arc shooting went up by 42.1 percent, and they went 27 of 63 in field goals (42.9 percent). They also racked up a 100 percent free-throw percentage against Atlanta, showing how dialed in they were. And Hull attributes one player for this resurgence.

Lexie Hull names Indiana Fever’s main weapon against Atlanta

In both the playoff games, only one player was the leading scorer: Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell. Her offensive drive surpassed both teams, with her dropping 46 points combined. Now Hull believes she will be the main weapon going into the third game. As she puts it, “I think more than anything, her consistency. She obviously is a huge threat on the offensive side, and her ability to continue to make shots when the defense is just all over her. You know, she’s able to create and then also give the ball out. She’s found AB, and she’s found all of us in great spots.”

However, it is her effect on the other end of the court that Hull praises the most. She said, “I think I’ve been most impressed by her defense. Because I think that’s an aspect of her game that doesn’t get talked about enough… She’s a lot of times one of the best guards in the league. She’s done a really great job for us on both sides of the court.” 

In the 2025 regular season, Mitchell averaged 0.9 steals per game and 0.2 blocks per game. Her steal percentage is about 1.4 percent, which is modest but shows consistency. Her role is to slow down the drive of opposing players until the bigs like Boston or Howard step in, and Mitchell does that efficiently. Mitchell commits relatively few fouls compared to steals, so her defense tends not to come at the cost of too many fouls.