“ We believe it ”: Fever Stun Dream, take the 1st series of series of eliminations since ’15

ATLANTA – So few has turned well for the fever of Indiana this season. Star Caitlin Clark was limited to only 13 games due to an injury before being excluded for the year. The acquisition of the free agent of precious Dewanna Bonner left mid-season. Four other players suffered end -of -season injuries, and a fifth was sidelined to start the playoffs due to a concussion.

But during the first round Thursday, match 3 on the road, Indiana finally made things break. Despite the follow-up for more than 29 minutes, the fever of the seeded n ° 6 held the dream n ° 3 aimed in the last 2h30 and finished the match on a race of 7-0 to shock Atlanta 87-85 and reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2015.

By dragging one point with less than 15 seconds, Aliyah Boston of the fever almost returned it with the Bonna Jones of the dream and Jordin Canada nearby. Kelsey Mitchell set up the loose ball while Jones fell to the ground, delaying his ability to recover in defense. The broken game led to the passage of Odyssey Sims to Boston, whose lay-up with 7.4 seconds gave the fever their first advance since the start of the second period.

On the next possession of Atlanta, Lexie Hull read the game inbounds and jumped in front of Canada for the flight. Sims went 1 for 2 of the free throw line with 1.2 seconds to play, but the last shot from Jones to the buzzer was not good.

“I said before the start of the match, it was going to be a GUT type game,” said Mitchell, who was 24 points on Thursday and was the top scorer in each match. “We could have easily abandoned. We played them here in Atlanta. Many factors, fans. And we didn’t do it.”

Adding Natasha Howard: “I can’t put it in words. I’m just speechless right now, just how we fought all this game.”

The fever will face the seeds of series n ° 2 Las Vegas Aces, winners of 18 of their last 19 games, in a series of semi-final for the best of five years which begins on Sunday.

A month ago – when Clark’s return was in question and Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham were lowered due to end -of -season injuries – an appearance in the semi -finals for fever seemed wacky. Even a berth in playoffs was hardly guaranteed.

Instead, a group without its superstar and with only 10 active players, including four who have joined difficulties in the past five weeks, have won the first victory of the franchise series of eliminations since 2015 – when the legend of the Tamika Catchings franchise was still part of the team.

“We work so hard, and I’m so proud of our group to stay with it,” said Hull. “I mean, it’s just crazy that we were playing in the semi-finals. We thought it, but there are so many people who haven’t done it. And so we have another series.”

Indiana thought that its gaming experience through adversity during the regular season would be beneficial in the playoffs. This turned out to be true, with the surviving fever of consecutive elimination games and on the survival of a seven-point deficit at halftime in match 3 to beat the chances with a group also in disagreement.

“This group is really special,” said fever coach Stephanie White. “I mean, we say it roughly ad nauseam, but it is resilience, flexibility, the welcoming and inclusive nature of this team, their altruism to shoot for us on the ego, the ability to let each teammate be what they are and shine at best and lift them.

Atlanta checked most of the game thanks to a quick first half in which he dominated the painting (40 points) and scored 56 points in total – almost as much as the team finished with match 2 (60).

Despite the train, the Indiana remained at a distance from the strike, without letting the dream lead by more than eight. The fever tightened its defense after the break, limiting Atlanta to only 29 points in the last 20 minutes – as much as the dream scored in the second quarter.

The fever saved its best for the end, holding Atlanta at 0 for 3 shots and forcing three reversals in the 2:30 ends of the match. The dream finished 6 for 23 of the 3 -point arc, had 14 reversals and went to the launch line franc 11 times, while the fever ended with 24 attempts to throw franc.

“I think we just stagnated,” said Canada about the second half. “We do not move the ball as if we were in the first half. … We were taking a lot of bad shots, and we also rushed … and then we had a timely turnover on which they capitalized.”

Mitchell and the other four starters of the fever, each marked two figures in victory.

“We were struck, struck and struck and struck and struck,” said Brianna Turner, whose defense in her 18 -minute bench was crucial. “We lose well with our backs against the wall.”

The last time the fever was in the semi -finals, White was the coach, and Howard – one of their big free agent signatories of this offseason – was part of the team as a second year pro.

“I am so excited that we are back here and with this group of young women,” said Howard, “and work is not yet done.”