The setting was do-or-die, and the stakes could not have been higher. As the sixth seed, Indiana traveled to Atlanta for Game 3, knowing a win meant survival, and a loss meant elimination.

The Dream, seeded No. 3, had home court in a decisive matchup that seemed tilted in their favor from the start. Indiana, meanwhile, was missing key players with season‑ending injuries—including Caitlin Clark—and carried the weight of history: no playoff series win since 2015.

From tip‑off, the Dream played with purpose. They tried to use their height, their home crowd energy, and their familiarity with finishing close games. But the Fever stayed within striking distance.

Indiana’s zone defense forced tough shots; their bench made timely contributions when starters needed rest or adjustments; and although Atlanta stretched leads at times, Indiana always stayed just close enough to believe.

Coming out of the third quarter, the Dream carried momentum into the fourth. Rhyne Howard — among others — poured in points, and at one point late in regulation the Dream held an 85‑80 lead with just 2:32 remaining. It looked grim for Indiana. But this was where the Fever turned the tide.

They mounted a 7‑0 run in the final 2:05 — a furious, pressure‑packed stretch that included clutch buckets, defensive stands, and smart clock management. First, Kelsey Mitchell cut into the lead with a layup off a pass from Aliyah Boston.

Then Lexie Hull hit a basket with about 43.1 seconds on the clock, pulling Indiana to within one. Next, after a miss by Atlanta, Indiana kept their composure.

The defining moment came with 7.4 seconds left. Aliyah Boston, having already played one of her best games in a Fever uniform, was left alone under the basket following a scramble — Brionna Jones had gone for a loose ball and lost her footing. Boston slipped in the go‑ahead layup to give Indiana an 86‑85 lead. Not yet safe, but in control.

Atlanta called timeout, tried to set up an inbound play. But Lexie Hull, reading the play perfectly, came from behind to poke the ball away on the inbounds pass. That forced the Dream into a scramble. Indiana got the ball to Odyssey Sims, who was fouled with 1.2 seconds left.

She made one of two free throws, nudging the lead to 87‑85. That left only a prayer for Atlanta. They launched a desperation three at the buzzer — off‑balance, contested — it didn’t fall. The Fever had done it.

Statistically, many performances stood out. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 24 points. Aliyah Boston pulled down 12 rebounds and added 6 assists, delivering a double‑double along with that clutch final bucket.

Odyssey Sims provided steady playmaking, Natasha Howard did the dirty work, and the defense down the stretch held when it mattered most. For the Dream, Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada each had strong showings — Gray with 19 points and 12 boards, Canada with 18 points and 10 assists — but it wasn’t enough.

It wasn’t just what Indiana did; it’s how they did it. Missing big names, with pressure mounting, they stayed patient. They made use of every possession, fought for rebounds, hustled on loose balls, trusted each other.

Head coach Stephanie White’s adjustments and calm during fire moments showed. When the weight of the moment threatened to collapse them, Indiana instead leaned in.

Emotion played a role, too. The fans in Atlanta were loud; the Dream expected to close it out. But the Fever seemed less burdened and more determined. When the misses came for Dream, the Fever seized momentum.

Their energy rose. Their belief, sometimes shaken, hardened. By the end, though, it felt like every swung possession, every defensive stop, every hustle play had led to this: a simple layup with seconds left, a steal, pressure on the inbound, and a missed shot at the buzzer.

In the aftermath, the magnitude of the win settled in. It was the first playoff series Indiana had won in a decade. It was a validation of months of work, of overcoming injuries, of integrating role players, and leaning on their stars when needed. It was also a statement: even without all their pieces, they could execute under pressure.

Looking ahead, Indiana now advances to the Semifinals, where they’ll face one of the top seeds — likely Las Vegas. They enter that matchup riding massive momentum, battle‑tested and no longer seen as underdogs.

The confidence gained from this win is priceless: they know they can close when games get tight. They know what it takes. And they proved: miracles are real — at least when you believe.