The Playoff race is heating up, and teams are starting to feel the burn. Dallas is out, Sky is in a similar situation. And then there is the Indiana Fever vs the Seattle Storm, two teams fighting for a playoff spot, and neither will have an easy road. The Fever looked like a lock for the postseason at one point, but injuries quickly changed the narrative for the reigning WNBA Commissioner’s Cup champions. Losing Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, and Sophie Cunningham in quick succession for the rest of the season has been a massive blow. Since then, the Fever have dropped six of their last eight games.

The Seattle Storm has had its share of drama, too. After Alysha Clark went on record about locker room tensions leading to her departure, things went downhill fast. They hit a rough patch, dropping six straight games. But now, they’re starting to turn it around, riding a three-game winning streak.

This game is huge for both teams. The battle for the 6th, 7th, and 8th spots in the standings is heating up, with just a win or two separating the teams from 6th to 9th. This preview will cover everything you need to know before tip-off.

Indiana Fever vs Seattle Storm: Where to watch

Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Watch on: CBS Sports Network, KOMO 4, CW Seattle, and FDSIN
Streaming: Fubo, Paramount+, and ESPN+

Indiana Fever vs Seattle Storm: Injury report

Indiana Fever

• Chloe Bibby – OUT
• Caitlin Clark – OUT
• Sophie Cunningham – OUT
• Sydney Colson – OUT
• Aari McDonald – OUT

Seattle Storm

• Katie Lou Samuelson – OUT

Probable Starting Lineups

Indiana Fever

• Natasha Howard
• Aliyah Boston
• Odyssey Sims
• Kelsey Mitchell
• Lexie Hull

Seattle Storm

• Nneka Ogwumike
• Gabby Williams
• Ezi Magbegor
• Skylar Diggins
• Brittney Sykes

Prediction: Can Fever beat the Storm to keep their playoff hope alive?

The Seattle Storm is an interesting case. They were one of the favorites to finish in the top four before the All-Star break, but something shifted. In their last 11 games, they’ve managed to win only four. Even the addition of Brittney Sykes hasn’t turned things around just yet. But to their credit, they’re on a three-game winning streak and finally heading in the right direction.

After all, when insider Christian Braswell hinted at tension brewing in the Storm locker room, things got pretty intense around the franchise. That said, considering the Fever are missing not one, not two, but five key players, it’s hard not to lean toward the Storm to keep their winning streak alive.

Of course, availability is a big factor here. But there’s more to it. The Fever are coming off a two-game losing streak to the Lynx. Both matchups were tightly contested, but in each game, the Fever let a lead slip and then ended up losing by 5 and 13 points, respectively. On the other hand, the Seattle Storm is riding high after a thrilling win over the Mystics, sealed by a buzzer-beater from Nneka Ogwumike.

Experience on the side gives another edge for Seattle. With veterans like Ogwumike, Brittney Sykes, Erica Wheeler, and Skylar Diggins on the floor, facing a young Fever roster could prove to be a major advantage. But is it enough to declare the Storm as the favorites?

Seattle’s recent three-game win streak has come against the Sky, the Wings, and the Mystics — teams either already out of the playoff picture or hanging on by a thread (the Mystics still have a slim chance). So, those wins were expected. But the Fever? That’s a different ball game. Indiana averages 85.1 points per game compared to Seattle’s 82.4. However, the Storm make up for it on the defensive end, holding opponents to just 79.8 points per game, while the Fever allow 82.8.

While the numbers are pretty close, the Fever have the home-court edge. They’re 10-9 at home this season, and ESPN slightly favors them with a 55.9% chance to take the win. So, who are you backing in this one? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!