The drought is over in Indiana.
After the Fever last qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in 2016, the All-Star trio of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell is leading the franchise back to the postseason in 2024.
It’s been a wild ride for Indiana, which has won 18 of 29 games following a brutal 1-8 start to the season. Before falling twice to the Aces, the Fever were above .500 for the first time since June 2019. They become just the second WNBA team to start a season 1-8 or worse and still make the playoffs, joining the now-defunct Charlotte Sting.
As the finish line nears, here is where the Fever stands in the WNBA standings and how they ended an eight-year playoff drought.
Standings through Tuesday, September 17
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Indiana Fever updated WNBA playoff picture, standings
The Fever have jumped into the WNBA’s sixth seed and have a small shot to move to fifth, though they’ll need some help. Indiana won the season series with Phoenix (3-0) but lost the season series with Seattle (1-3). Based on WNBA tiebreak rules, the Fever would need to finish one full game ahead of the Storm to have a better seed.
| Rank | Team | W-L | Win Pct. | GB |
| 1. | x – New York Liberty | 32-7 | .821 | — |
| 2. | x – Minnesota Lynx | 30-9 | .769 | 2 |
| 3. | x – Connecticut Sun | 27-12 | .692 | 5 |
| 4. | x – Las Vegas Aces | 26-13 | .658 | 6.5 |
| 5. | x – Seattle Storm | 24-15 | .632 | 7.5 |
| 6. | x – Indiana Fever | 20-19 | .513 | 12 |
| 7. | x – Phoenix Mercury | 18-20 | .474 | 13.5 |
| 8. | Atlanta Dream | 14-25 | .359 | 18 |
| — | Washington Mystics | 13-26 | .333 | 19 |
| — | Chicago Sky | 13-26 | .333 | 19 |
X: Clinched playoffs
Eliminated from WNBA playoffs contention: Wings, Sparks
MORE: Caitlin Clark is having the second-best rookie season in WNBA history
If the WNBA season ended today…
The No. 6 Fever would face the No. 3 Sun in a best-of-three playoff series.
Indiana’s most likely playoff opponents are Connecticut and Las Vegas. The Fever are 1-3 this season against the Sun and 0-4 against the Aces.
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Indiana Fever remaining schedule
The Fever has an advantageous schedule to close the season. Indiana’s final game comes against the Mystics. They currently hold the eighth seed, so the Fever could pick up a win that keeps Washington out of the playoffs.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Thursday, Sept. 19 | at Mystics | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
Indiana Fever WNBA playoff-clinching scenarios
The Fever clinched a playoff berth on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Indiana will return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season.
The 2024 WNBA Playoffs begin on Sunday, Sept. 22.
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Indiana Fever WNBA playoff history
While the Fever faced a lengthy postseason drought, the franchise has a rich history of success. Here is a look back at the team’s history in the WNBA Playoffs, including a streak of 12 consecutive playoff appearances from 2005-16.
| Year | Record | Result |
| 2024 | TBD | TBD |
| 2016 | 17-17 | Lost First Round |
| 2015 | 20-14 | Lost Finals |
| 2014 | 16-18 | Lost East Finals |
| 2013 | 16-18 | Lost East Finals |
| 2012 | 22-12 | Won Finals |
| 2011 | 21-13 | Lost East Finals |
| 2010 | 21-13 | Lost East Finals |
| 2009 | 22-12 | Lost Finals |
| 2008 | 17-17 | Lost East Semifinals |
| 2007 | 21-13 | Lost East Finals |
| 2006 | 21-13 | Lost East Semifinals |
| 2005 | 21-13 | Lost East Finals |
| 2002 | 16-16 | Lost East Semifinals |
How many championships do the Indiana Fever have?
The Fever have won one WNBA championship.
Led by Tamika Catchings and Shavonte Zellous, Indiana defeated Minnesota, 3-1, in the 2012 WNBA Finals. Catchings was named WNBA Finals MVP.
Indiana is 1-2 all-time in the WNBA Finals. The franchise also advanced to the Finals in 2009-15 but came up short against the Mercury and Lynx, respectively.
WNBA playoff tiebreakers
The WNBA has five playoff seeding tiebreakers in place if two teams finish with the same record:
- Better record in head-to-head games
- Better winning percentage within own conference
- Better winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the season
- Better point differential in head-to-head games
- Coin toss
If there are more than two teams tied for the same seed, the tiebreakers are similar but have a slightly different twist:
- Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams
- Better winning percentage against teams within the conference (if all teams are from the same conference) or better record against teams in the opposite conference (if one or more teams are in different conferences)
- Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season
- Better point differential in games involving tied teams
- Coin toss