The Indiana Fever are still dancing in September — and they’re doing it without Caitlin Clark on the floor.
With their rookie star sidelined by a groin injury, Thursday’s Game 3 against the Atlanta Dream was about grit, depth, and players who stayed ready when their number was called. The Fever pulled off an 87-85 stunner to punch their ticket to the WNBA semifinals, and head coach Stephanie White made sure one player got her flowers: Brianna Turner.
The veteran forward was all over the place in Games 2 and 3, making stops that swung the series in Indiana’s favor. Turner’s journey hasn’t been easy — she spent most of the season out of the rotation and was even targeted by frustrated fans online. But when it mattered, she delivered.
“Bri Turner is the ultimate pro,” White said after the win. “When we were healthy, we had six post players and she was out of the rotation and she stayed ready. It’s one thing to say, ‘stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,’ but it’s another thing to do it.”
White recalled a similar moment earlier this year when Turner sparked a comeback against Connecticut, adding that her defensive versatility has been “pivotal in everything that we do.”
Turner’s resilience mirrors the Fever’s season. Written off at multiple points, they just sent Atlanta packing despite missing Clark and Sophie Cunningham.
Caitlin Clark Turns Into Fever’s Loudest Cheerleader
Caitlin Clark herself has turned into the team’s biggest hype woman. Unable to suit up, she’s been the loudest voice on the sidelines — and on X.
“FEVVVVVVV SHOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!! 💙💙💙💙💙💙 @IndianaFever,” Clark posted after the final buzzer, celebrating what she called one of the biggest upsets in league history.
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Indiana trailed by five with just over two minutes left before ripping off a 7-0 run to seal it. Kelsey Mitchell dropped 24 points, Aliyah Boston piled up a 14-point double-double with six assists, and Odyssey Sims chipped in 16 points and eight dimes.
For a team that’s been counted out all year, Thursday night was a statement. With Turner’s defense, Mitchell’s scoring, and Boston’s steadiness, the Fever are proving they’re more than just Clark’s team — and they’re not done yet.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
