Fever face big obstacle in pursuit of improbable WNBA title run

Yet on Thursday night, the Fever defied expectations, defeating the Atlanta Dream to punch their ticket to the WNBA semifinals — without Clark on the court. Now, the spotlight shifts to a pressing question: Can the Fever win a championship with their offensive load falling largely on the shoulders of just Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston?

How the Fever have thrived without Caitlin Clark

Since Clark’s injury announcement, Indiana has held steady, posting a 5-1 record. Mitchell has stepped up in a major way, averaging 19.7 points per game in that stretch, leading to a top-five in MVP voting, while Boston has made her presence felt on both ends of the floor, grabbing double-digit rebounds in half of those contests and anchoring the defense. Head coach Stephanie White deserves significant credit for navigating the adversity, successfully plugging roster gaps and keeping the team competitive.

Despite their recent success, the road ahead is daunting. Standing between Indiana and a finals appearance is a loaded Las Vegas Aces team — a team that brings playoff experience, elite size, backcourt depth and a championship pedigree. The Fever’s resilience is undeniable, but the question remains: how much gas do they have left in the tank?

Injuries have a way of derailing even the most promising championship runs. However, if the Fever are to continue their improbable postseason surge, they'll need to dig deep. For all their talent and accolades, the Aces still have to prove they can outperform Indiana when it matters most — between the lines.