Indianapolis, Aug. 14 - Without question, reaching the playoffs for the first time has given the Fever a sense of accomplishment.

Do not confuse that, however, with satisfaction.

When the fourth-seeded Fever open the Eastern Conference semifinals against the top-seeded New York Liberty on Friday at 6 p.m. in Conseco Fieldhouse, coach Nell Fortner is conceding nothing to the three-time WNBA finalists.

"I don't consider us underdogs," Fortner said Wednesday. "We are the less-experienced playoff team. But everybody starts over at 0-0 now and we have a tremendous amount of momentum. We got a heck of a lot of 'playoff' experience in our last six or seven games. We played our tails off and answered every call.

"It's anybody's ballgame now."

On the brink of extinction with a 10-15 record, the Fever won six of the final seven games, clinching the East's final playoff berth on the final night of the regular season with a 60-56 victory in Cleveland. New York lost four of its last five but the only victory - over Washington - was a big one, securing the top spot in the East.

Fortner

"New York is such a veteran team, because of all that experience they know when they have to turn it on," Fortner said. "They know how to get it going when they need to. But I'm a big believer in momentum and right now we have tremendous momentum."

Though MVP candidate Tamika Catchings has carried the Fever, there have been plenty of other contributors in the stretch run. Perhaps none has been more valuable than point guard Coquese Washington. Indiana went 8-3 after she was acquired in a trade with Houston and 6-2 with Washington in the starting lineup.

But others have stepped forward, as well, including Kelly Schumacher, who filled in for injured starter Olympia Scott-Richardson at center against Cleveland and produced the biggest game of her career (15 points, nine rebounds) in the franchise's biggest game to that point.

"These last two weeks have been a lot of fun," Fortner said. "Every player has played a part. Every player has made a difference. Monica Maxwell hit that shot to beat Phoenix, and that was a huge win. Bridget Pettis turned around the Miami game with her energy. And Kelly really stepped up last night when we really needed her to."

Indiana is facing some substantial hurdles. Just three players on the roster have postseason experience - Washington, Pettis and McCray. And three starters are battling injuries - Scott-Richardson (right foot), McCray (right hand) and Washington (right calf).

Even at full strength, the Fever would be hard-pressed to upend the Liberty. The Fever is 1-8 all-time against New York, 0-4 in Madison Square Garden.

"We'll have to keep our composure," Fortner said. "New York is going to throw a lot of different looks at us and we've got to get through that and score against it. I think that'll be the key - composure when it's tough and it's tight and it's close. We'll have to take care of the ball and not turn it over."

As pleased as she is to reach the playoffs, Fortner isn't just happy to be here.

"We worked hard to get here and we deserve to be here," she said. "We're playing to win."