What a magical season! It didn’t end like we thought it would (in a mostly good way). The 2025 Indiana Fever gave us a team to remember — and an example to live by.
Five players suffered season-ending injuries — including basketball sensation Caitlin Clark. Two more went out during the playoffs. That could have been the headline: Team devastated by injuries hobbles to the finish line.
But the story is so much more.
Yes, the players literally hobbled, but the team strutted into the playoffs, a feat no one thought they could accomplish. They didn’t stop there. The Fever went to the semifinals for the first time in a decade and were one overtime away from heading to the WNBA Finals.
Their performance on the court was remarkable. A motley crew of players assembled out of desperation to fill roster spots outhustled the best teams in the league, over and over. On paper, it shouldn’t work, but this team made it happen.
What was behind their magic? Love and hard work. I know — it’s so cheesy. But you can’t argue with real life. These women poured their souls into the game and into each other.
Their mantra: “We all we got, we all we need.”
This team cared for one another and genuinely enjoyed playing together. The players and coaches said it over and over, but as a fan, you could literally feel the love and passion. They rose above adversity, criticism, and rumors to shock the sport.
I absolutely love and adore this team.
They Ran Until Their Wheels Came Off
Perhaps the most quintessential moment of the season happened in the last game. Kelsey Mitchell, the team’s heart and soul, collapsed on the floor. Everyone rushed over to be with her. The medical team even brought a stretcher, which Kelsey declined because she’s superwoman.
Turns out she suffered from rhabdomyolysis, which is when your muscles reach maximum capacity and just give up. She quickly received treatment and should make a full recovery.
But if that injury doesn’t sum up the season, I don’t know what does. Kelsey said it herself — she literally played until her wheels came off, giving her absolute most for her team and the fans.
During an interview, Mitchell said, “They [the team] made me feel loved, and I hope that they know that I love them, because I don’t even think I would have got through it… Their iteration of love is just, it’s great to be able to play with the group that I play with. And I can honestly say I go to war with them on any kind of day.”
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
The season demonstrated the importance of loving and supporting one another through adversity and disaster. The power of love undeniably showed itself on the court. If it can win basketball games, imagine what else it can do.
Fever Fans Step Up
The Fever fanbase takes a lot of heat for being Caitlin fans, not basketball fans. This season gave us a chance to prove ourselves. Yes, her absence diminished ticket prices and crowds, which was unfortunate. But it didn’t touch the fans’ enthusiasm and passion.
Dedicated fans who couldn’t afford to attend games at post-Caitlin prices got a chance to experience the magic. Tickets for the first round of the playoffs were dirt cheap, but that was the loudest I’ve ever heard Gainbridge.
The series between the Fever and the Aces was the most-watched WNBA semifinals ever. The average viewership was 1.3M, up 57% over last year, even without Caitlin.
Women’s basketball has arrived. The hype is not about one player. The Fever proved that this year. The team gave us an incredible season that we never thought was possible. Again and again, they stepped up for each other and for the fans. I’m so glad I got to be a part of it.
These women deserve all their flowers — and a raise.
Big changes are ahead for the WNBA in the offseason as the players negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. We’ll see how it shakes out. Personally, I’m on team “Pay them what you owe them.”
Whatever happens, I hope to see you next year at a Fever game day.
