Fever Host No. 1 Lynx Tonight With Playoff Positioning on the Line

WNBA Standings

INDIANAPOLIS — One lineup question to watch is Sophie Cunningham. The Fever veteran played only seven minutes in Sunday’s ugly 93-77 loss to Washington, finishing scoreless on two shots as Stephanie White dramatically shortened her role. Rookie Raven Johnson received 26 minutes instead and gave Indiana badly needed defensive energy. Cunningham has normally provided shooting and scoring punch off the bench, so whether White restores her minutes against the league-leading Lynx could be one of tonight’s most important rotation decisions.

The Indiana Fever get their biggest late-season test tonight when the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse for an 8 p.m. ET tip on ESPN. Indiana enters at 27-15, while Minnesota is 32-10 and can lock up the league’s No. 1 playoff seed with a victory.

The Fever have already clinched a playoff berth, but their exact seed remains unsettled. Indiana is still fighting for better positioning and potentially home-court advantage, making these final two regular-season games against Minnesota especially important. The teams meet again Thursday in Minnesota.

For Indiana, Kelsey Mitchell remains the offensive engine, averaging just over 25 points per game, while Caitlin Clark continues to direct the offense and is listed probable tonight because of her lingering back issue. Damiris Dantas remains out following knee surgery.

Minnesota brings one of the league’s deepest rosters, led by Napheesa Collier, while rookie guard Olivia Miles has emerged as another major threat. Miles is questionable with a calf injury, adding some uncertainty to Minnesota’s rotation.

Neither team has looked completely sharp heading into the postseason. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve has criticized her team’s defensive consistency, while Fever coach Stephanie White has continued experimenting with rotations and searching for greater defensive cohesion.

Tonight gives Indiana a chance to measure itself against the WNBA’s top team before the playoffs begin. A Fever win would strengthen their seeding position and provide some momentum against a Lynx team they could see again in the postseason.

Tipoff: 8 p.m. ET, Gainbridge Fieldhouse. TV: ESPN