The 2025 WNBA semifinals series between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces has been a great battle. Not only is it a battle between the MVP and a player who many consider was overlooked, but it has also been a great battle between two of the best coaches in the league. While the first round was won by Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White, rounds 2 and 3 have been won by Becky Hammon. These consecutive losses have left Indiana’s season on the brink.
However, with their history of pulling off miracles this year, they shouldn’t be counted out. Merely nine days ago, they won back-to-back elimination games against the third-seeded Atlanta Dream. Wary of the trend of coming back from the brink this year, the Las Vegas Aces coach is not taking any chances and is planning to end Stephanie White’s Indiana Fever’s journey at their own homes.
When asked about her team’s mindset ahead of Game 4, Becky Hammon said, “Same as it was today. I mean, we’re not looking for a game five. We want to come in, take care of business, have the appropriate mentality. Obviously, we’re happy with the win, but we have to move on, and we have to do some things much better.” Playoff series have as much to do with momentum as they have to do with star power. This was already highly evident in game one of the series.
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When the Aces came in with a lackluster intensity, the Indiana Fever noticed that and blew them off the court. Taking lessons from that, Becky Hammon’s statements show that she is not going to let any drop in intensity. Even in last night’s game, things were not so perfect. Putting aside A’ja Wilson’s offensive struggles, the Aces nearly gave away a double-digit lead. Becky Hammon also addressed that in the post-game presser.
She said, “I know my group understands that. We didn’t feel like we played a good 40 minutes. So we wanna put together a good 40. I thought we played well in patches, but… Obviously, the fourth quarter was great. But we still feel like there are some areas we can do much better.” And indeed her team knows that they need to be better. Even the top scorer last night, Jackie Young (25 points), admitted that she needed to take better care of the ball. Although 4 turnovers are not a big number, the Aces players know that to beat Stephanie White’s Fever squad, they need to be at the top of their game.
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But while the Las Vegas Aces are preparing their best to close out the series in game four, it will be interesting to see how Stephanie White picks up her Indiana Fever after two consecutive losses.
How can Stephanie White get the Indiana Fever back into the series?
Last night’s game must feel like a lost opportunity for the Indiana Fever. Despite the Las Vegas Aces’ slow start and a poor shooting performance from A’ja Wilson, the Indiana Fever were not able to cash in and level the series. After their slow start, they had even taken a five-point lead around the 6:46 mark of the third quarter. However, after that, they were not able to hang with the Aces and lost the game 84-72.
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But with the game behind them now, their sole focus should be on making sure that they win the next game and force a do-or-die scenario. But with all the momentum favoring the Aces, what can Stephanie White do to make sure that the Fever can come off with a win? Well, first and foremost, the Indiana Fever need to make sure that they can contain A’ja Wilson again. Till now, Aliyah Boston has done a decent job when it comes to defending herself. In games 1 and 3, she was relatively quiet. To ensure a win in game 4, they need to do the same.
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Taking the lessons from the game 3 loss, the Indiana Fever need to make sure that whenever they get an opportunity to play with pace, they are making use of it. Be it fast breaks or points off turnovers, they need to move the ball and be quick with their transitions. Stephanie White will also be looking for some more production from the trio of Kelsey Mitchell, Odyssey Sims, and Aliyah Boston. While they haven’t been bad, in a desperate time like this, all three need to dig deep.
For sure, the task is not going to be an easy one. However, if there is one coach who can lead the Fever at this time, it is Stephanie White. Throughout the season, her coaching has helped the team navigate a challenging season. Now, with their season on the brink, the fans would hope for one more miracle.