Facing elimination, Fever play a winning hand to defeat Aces and tie the semifinal series 2-2

Facing elimination from the playoffs, the Indiana Fever had to find a way to win game four of the WNBA semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces.

It’s not the first time the team has been in this situation. It’s something the Indiana women’s professional basketball team is familiar with this season— make or break games.

“We’ve been through everything,” said Fever head coach Stephanie White. “So being in these types of situations isn’t new to us. It’s when we've been at our best.”

The Fever displayed the team’s tenacity yet again in a close Game 4 defeating the Aces 90-83.

Fever General Manager and COO Amber Cox said in her 15 year career, this year’s team has become her favorite.

“They have just overcome so much, and have done so with so much grace and class and grit, and they’ve just really been an inspiration to the city and to all of us who have been a part of it,” Cox said.

Cox helped set out about 18,000 red shirts that blanketed all the seats at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The shirts were for the fans to wear and create a sea of red in support of the Fever. Cox said it’s an honor to have hosted two semifinal games for the fans to attend.

“You want to play for them,” Cox said. “You want to continue to show up for them. Through the tough times, they’ve been there for us and have been really our fuel throughout this season.”

This season the Fever have struggled to keep a healthy bench with several players out for the season including 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark. That has led the team to bring on players including guards Odyssey Sims and Shey Peddy through the rest of the season.

The team has responded to challenges by finding new ways to adjust and continue to compete. Fans like Melinda Jines are proud of the team’s resilience.

“They basically have built a new team with all the players that are hurt, and they've come together as a team, and that's very, very inspirational to know that they can overcome and do so well,” Jines said.

That close relationship between the fans and players could be heard as guard Kelsey Mitchell took to the line for free-throws at the end of game and the crowd started chanting ‘MVP.’

Mitchell was one of five players that were selected as an MVP finalist this season. Ultimately the honor was awarded to A'ja Wilson, center on the Las Vegas Aces, and now four-time MVP, a record for the award.

“I have watched Kelsey from afar, and have wanted to coach her for such a long time, and have enjoyed, you know, every opportunity that I’ve had so she’s finally getting her flowers,” head coach White said.

Now the Fever and Aces travel to Las Vegas for one final winner-take-all game to decide who will advance to the WNBA finals.

Game Five will be Tuesday in Las Vegas at 9:30 p.m. E.T.

Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org or on Signal at SamHorton.05