Fever Clinches Fifth Straight Playoff Berth

News Release | August 25, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS – By virtue of Tuesday evening’s losses by the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics, the Indiana Fever has clinched its fifth straight berth in the WNBA Playoffs. The Fever, with a WNBA-leading 19-7 record, has advanced to the playoffs for the sixth time in the franchise’s 10 seasons.

The Fever hosts defending Western Conference champion San Antonio on Thursday night (7:00 p.m.) at Conseco Fieldhouse. A Fever victory could move Indiana within one more game of clinching first or second place in the Eastern Conference. Holding a five-game lead in the East standings, Indiana is on pace to clinch its first regular season conference title in franchise history.

WNBA Playoffs begin Wednesday, Sept. 16. Below are facts about the Fever and the upcoming WNBA Playoffs.

  • Indiana owns a run of five straight seasons in the WNBA Playoffs and six overall (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).

  • Indiana has twice advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals (2005 and 2007) but has yet to reach the WNBA Finals.

  • Indiana’s 19-7 record is the best in the WNBA and, with eight games remaining, is already within two games of the club’s franchise-record for wins (21).

  • With one more victory, Indiana will eclipse 20 wins for the fourth time in its last five seasons.

  • Indiana owns a 12-game home win streak at Conseco Fieldhouse. A Thursday win against San Antonio will match the existing franchise record of 13 straight home wins, set between the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

  • The Eastern Conference Semifinals is a three-game series beginning Wednesday, Sept. 16 or Thursday, Sept. 17. If the Fever finishes first or second in the Eastern Conference, Indiana will clinch homecourt advantage in the opening series. In that event, Indiana’s first home playoff game would be Game 2 of the series – Friday, Sept. 18 or Saturday, Sept. 19. A potential Game 3 would also be played in Indianapolis – Sunday, Sept. 20 or Monday, Sept. 21.

  • The Eastern Conference Finals is also a three-game series, to be played on Wednesday, Sept. 23, Friday, Sept. 25 and, if necessary, Sunday, Sept. 26. The WNBA Finals is a best-of-five game series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29.

  • Fever playoff tickets will go on sale later this week.

    The Indiana Fever celebrates its 10th anniversary season in 2009 and hosts the San Antonio Silver Stars on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009 (7:00 p.m.). Led by five time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings, Olympic silver medalist Tully Bevilaqua, 2008 WNBA Most Improved Player Ebony Hoffman and two-time WNBA All-Stars Katie Douglas and Tammy Sutton-Brown, the Fever bids for its fifth consecutive playoff appearance in 2009. Season tickets are available at FeverBasketball.com, or by calling (317) 917-2500. Live video for all Indiana Fever games can be obtained via WNBA LiveAccess by visiting FeverBasketball.com.