The Indiana Fever’s season just crashed and burned, ending Thursday night with a 94-83 loss in Game 3 of their first-round series. Yeah, you heard that right, they got knocked out by the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces, who did the exact same thing to them in the 2025 playoffs. Optimism in Indianapolis was through the roof coming into this season. Remember how they pushed the Aces to the limit in the semifinals last year, even after losing *six* players to season-ending injuries, including Caitlin Clark herself? With Clark healthy, everyone thought they’d take that next step. But their 107-104 opening day loss to the Dallas Wings was a brutal foreshadowing of what was to come.
Historic Offense, Not Enough Wins
Look, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were absolutely electric. They powered what was hands down the best offense in WNBA history. The Fever shattered records for the best offensive rating at 115 and a ridiculous true shooting percentage of 60.6%. They also racked up the most 100-point games in a single season with 20. Mitchell was second in the entire league in scoring, and Clark wasn’t far behind, coming in third in scoring and second in assists. Together, their combined 47 points per game made them the highest-scoring duo ever seen in the league. They outscored so many opponents on their way to a franchise-record 28 wins, helped by that 44-game season. Amidst a scorching 10-2 run around the All-Star break, which included a dramatic overtime victory against the Atlanta Dream, they were sitting pretty in the driver’s seat for a top-four seed. Everything looked set.
Defense? What Defense? And What Happens Next?
But then everything just… stopped. They went a dismal 4-4 the rest of the way, dropped to sixth, and never recovered after the World Cup break. Too often, their defense was just non-existent, and it absolutely killed them in the playoffs against the Aces. Defensive intensity has never been a strong suit for either Clark or Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston, bless her heart, could only do so much on the backline, especially since she battled a lower leg injury from Unrivaled all season. The Fever’s 108.3 defensive rating was the *worst* among all playoff teams. They rarely forced turnovers and were constantly in foul trouble. I mean, the Aces shot 35 free throws in that decisive Game 3 alone, and 89 in the series! And let’s not even start on the free agent signings. Monique Billings, who got a two-year, $1.6 million deal, was a massive disappointment. She lost her starting spot to Makayla Timpson in August and averaged just 6.5 points and 4.7 rebounds. While Timpson showed some flashes, Billings’ failure to shore up that frontcourt was a critical issue, especially with Boston’s nagging injury. Lexie Hull, another two-year signing for just under $1.6 million, also had a rough go, putting up just 5.2 points per game on 33.7% shooting.
So, where do the Fever go from here? The season is over, but the big question lingers: Does it make sense to re-sign Kelsey Mitchell? Or are the Fever better off using their resources to fix that abysmal defense? They’ve got to figure out if the Clark-Mitchell duo, despite setting offensive records, can actually be a championship-winning core. This is going to be a wild offseason.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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