The WNBA Playoffs began Sunday afternoon. The Indiana Fever were without All-Star Caitlin Clark, who sustained multiple lower-body injuries and has not played basketball since July 15. The Atlanta Dream entered the playoffs as the third seed, and the Fever as the sixth seed. The Dream took Game 1 over the Fever this afternoon, 80-68.
Indiana Fever Fall To Dream In Game 1
The Indiana Fever lost Game 1 to the Dream, but the Fever were full of frustrations this afternoon. Head Coach Stephanie White did not hold back any of her emotions against the referees. The frustration boiled over in the fourth quarter when White and Guard Odyssey Sims received technical fouls. The teams combined for 43 fouls during the game.
White was irate with a no-call against Dream Guard Rhyne Howard, who grabbed Shey Peddy and spun her underneath the basket. The sequence ended with the Indiana Fever bench expressing displeasure over a no-call on the court.
Officiating was a point of consternation for the Fever throughout Sunday’s game. White had used both of her challenges by the 1:45 mark of the second quarter, successfully overturning calls against Lexie Hull and Boston. The frustrations continued into the second half with non-calls for Hull and a questionable foul against Boston.
Despite bad officiating, the game overall between the two teams was tight until the Dream pulled away in the fourth quarter. It has been a tough battle for the Indiana Fever this season. They have been riddled with injuries.
Game 2 In Indiana Tuesday Night
This game marks Atlanta’s first playoff win since 2018. Teams that take Game 1 of a series have a 71% chance of winning the series. The best-of-three series now will shift to Indiana for Game 1 on Tuesday. The Fever will have to regroup and keep their composure if they want to last in this series and move on to round 2 of the WNBA Playoffs.
