Game 3 of the series between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream was a nerve-wracking showdown. With a spot in the WNBA semifinals on the line, Indiana had to rally in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to pull off an 87-85 victory that kept fans-and Sophie Cunningham-on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.
The first-round series between Indiana and Atlanta was one of the most dramatic matchups of the 2025 WNBA playoffs. Each team earned dominant home wins-the Dream triumphed 80-68 at Gateway Center Arena, while the Fever responded with a 77-60 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse-setting the stage for a high-stakes Game 3.
Atlanta led by seven at halftime and maintained a five-point advantage with just 2:31 remaining. But a clutch basket by Aliyah Boston gave Indiana an 86-85 lead with 7.4 seconds left, and a game-saving steal by Lexie Hull sealed the win-just in time to spare Sophie Cunningham from a heart attack.
Cunningham and the Fever’s celebration
The celebration erupted instantly at Gateway Center Arena. Cameras caught Caitlin Clark shouting an ecstatic “Yeah!” while Boston delivered her signature “Bow, bow, bow.” The walk to the locker room was electric, but no one captured the emotional release better than Cunningham.
“Oh my God!” the star guard exclaimed. “That gave me a heart attack.” Breanna Turner echoed the team’s determination, saying, “We didn’t come this far only to come this far.”
Still, the road ahead remains steep. With Clark, Cunningham, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald all sidelined for the rest of the season due to injury, the second round poses a serious challenge.
What’s next for the Indiana Fever
The Fever won’t have much time to bask in their victory. This Sunday, they begin their second-round series against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Unlike the first round, Las Vegas holds home-court advantage for the first two games in this win-or-go-home series.
The Aces finished the season as the second-best team, but Indiana will take confidence from having won two of their three regular-season matchups. Will that be enough to pull off another upset? For Sophie Cunningham’s sake, let’s hope so.
Read the full article here
