Can Indiana Fever Still Qualify For WNBA Playoffs in 2025? Scenarios and Possible Opponent Revealed

With Caitlin Clark “hopeful” for a return, we had all our expectations on Indy to make it to the playoffs. But the Indiana Fever sensation is out for the remainder of the season, missing the team’s final three regular-season games and potential postseason play. Still, she had a positive ending to her upsetting update. “Now it’s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the Playoffs,” she wrote on X. Yes, Indy’s got a chance to make it to the playoffs. But can they grab one for CC?? Maybe!

While the playoff picture in the WNBA is getting tighter, Indy’s standing is right in the middle of the conversation. On Friday night, Atlanta secured a 104-85 win over the LA Sparks, which brought them up to the second spot to claim a playoff spot. Now with Kelsey Plum & Co. further slipping away, and the Fever securing a 97-77 win over Chicago, Stephanie White has managed to keep her team well within the playoff picture.

As Indy outscored the Sky 31-15 in the first quarter, they held it tight. The lead after that was never cut to a single digit for the rest of the game until the Fever won. All thanks to the “next woman up,” Kelsey Mitchell, who put up a strong stat line with a game-high of 20 points and 8 assists.

But a playoff spot is still a win away, and that win can only come if the Fever defeats either the Washington Mystics or the Minnesota Lynx. The easiest option is the Washington Mystics, a team that’s already out of playoff contention. Averaging 77.7 points per game, the Mystics are below LA with a 16-26 record.

Still, it won’t be that easy. For the last three games, the Mystics have held a 2-1 lead against the Fever. Despite scoring an average of 82 points with 25.3 rebounds and 19 assists against the Mystics, Indy’s only been able to grab their 85-76 win on 3-06-2025. But that was around two months ago.

Standing 7th on the table at 22-20, the Fever can be explosive to finish above the Sparks and the Storm. But what if they lose? They’ve got to replicate the win they got against the Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup finals. Despite averaging 87 points per game against the Lynx, the Fever are 2-0 against Napheesa Collier & Co. So, grabbing a win against a team with a 32-9 record is harder.

But if you ask ESPN, Indy would make it either by hook or by crook. According to ESPN’s WNBA Basketball Power Index 2025, the Fever has a 92.2% chance of making it to the playoffs. The seed depends upon the number of wins, though! The fifth seed is officially out of their hands now after Liberty’s win over the Storm.

Here are the cases for the Fever going ahead:

• End the season with a better record than Seattle, Golden State, and Los Angeles — 6th seed

• Finish tied only with Seattle while still holding more wins than Golden State and Los Angeles — 6th seed

• Face the scenario where Indiana drops any tiebreakers against Golden State and Los Angeles — 6th seed

• Finish with more wins than Los Angeles, finish with more wins than Golden State, or end up level with Seattle in the standings — 7th seed if only two conditions are met, and 8th seed if only one is met.

But can the Fever sail through the playoffs without Caitlin Clark?

Indy’s been through so many injuries, they’ve even got their 17th player added to the roster, but still, a championship win is tough to get. Especially since Caitlin Clark, the team’s core offense, who was “hopeful” to return, is out for the remainder of the season. But despite all difficulties, the Fever’s still got a strong lineup.

Especially with Lexie Hull, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, and Kelsey Mitchell, all four players who’ve played every single game. So, we’ve got a quartet of players experienced enough to guide the team into the postseason if the Fever gets another win. Kelsey and Boston are both putting up career-high averages in points.

Even Hull’s putting up a career-high with 7.3 points and 4.4 rebounds. Then there’s Howard, a three-time WNBA champion who’s been with Seattle and Minnesota. Even their add-ons, Sims and Powers, combine for 55 WNBA postseason games. In fact, Powers even won a WNBA title with Washington. So, there’s a solid core. After all, Indy’s defeated every team across the W except the Golden State Valkyries. But the dominance is only possible if the Fever grabs a win…