Every game is important now that the WNBA playoff race is heating up, and this contest definitely falls into that category and then some. The Atlanta Fever are currently outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture, while the Indiana Fever have a small cushion over the Dream as they look to move up in the standings.
All of which makes this game pivotal, especially with the Chicago Sky sandwiched between the Fever and the Dream in the standings. The Sky lost a heartbreaker to Las Vegas on an A'ja Wilson buzzer-beater, which means Atlanta moved up again, so they're now just a half-game out of the playoffs.
Game Details
Fixture: Indiana Fever @ Atlanta Dream
Date and Time: August 26, 2024 @ 7:30 PM
Location: The Gateway Center Arena, College Park, GA
Indiana Fever Team Review
Indiana's playoff-bound freight train came to a grinding halt against Minneapolis on Saturday night as the Lynx stifled Caitlin Clark and company by a 90-80 count. Minnesota forced the Fever into 15 turnovers, 7 by Clark, and they defended the arc well enough to limit Indiana to 24.1 percent.
The Fever will be looking to rebound with a strong effort here, especially since the Dream is one of two teams that are potential threats as the race for the seventh and eighth playoff slots continues.
Still, the Fever had a successful road trip, beating the Mercury and the Storm before stumbling in Minnesota. They'll need to recover quickly with the Sun coming to town on the 28th; it's crucial to get a win against Atlanta, which at 10-18 has some work to do to get to .500.
Atlanta Dream Team Review
As for Atlanta, their postseason dreams depend on their ability to make an uphill climb. They've been streaky, too, dropping eight straight before a three-game winning streak that came to a sudden disappointing loss to the Mercury in their second game of a back-to-back with Phoenix.
That loss came against a Mercury team that trotted out the old guard as Diane Taurasi and Brittney Griner combined to score 40 points against the Dream. Atlanta's leading scorer is guard Rhyne Howard, and the Dream recently celebrated Tina Charles's record-breaking scoring effort as she passed Tina Thompson to become the second leading scorer in WNBA history against the Mercury in the first game of that back-to-back.
Atlanta needs to start another winning streak against Indiana, given how tight the playoff chase is, but it'll be a tough road after tonight. The Dream heads west to play Seattle, Las Vegas, and LA, so this game is an essential momentum builder.
Who to Watch
Indiana Fever
Can Clark recover her poise after her recent turnover binge? She had several feisty moments with the refs in the Minnesota loss, and that can't happen if Indiana is going to continue its climb in the playoff standings.
The shooting will have to get better, too. Kelsey Mitchell flattened out after two amazing games in which she scored 55 points against Phoenix and Seattle, going just 2 for 10 from beyond the arc against the Lynx. The home crowd should help with both of these issues, but the Fever can't get caught looking ahead to their battle against the Sun on Wednesday.
Atlanta Dream
Rhyne Howard is the star to watch for Atlanta, with Charles holding things down on the boards. Alisha Gray will have to step up and supply scoring support, too, if the Fever is going to catch Chicago down the stretch and earn a playoff berth. The Sky will be watching carefully as they prepare for their trip to DC to face the Mystics.