Fever Overtake Dream for Fourth Seed in WNBA Playoff Race
The Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun 111-91, while the Atlanta Dream lost to the Portland Fire, causing the two teams to swap playoff seeds. Indiana now holds the No. 4 spot, giving them home-court advantage in a potential first-round series against Atlanta. The Fever have four games left, while the Dream have five, so the standings could still change.
Indiana’s 20-point victory over Connecticut, paired with Atlanta’s loss to Portland, flipped the two teams’ playoff seeding with just days left before the WNBA’s World Cup break. The Fever now own a half-game lead over the Dream for the No. 4 spot, which would secure home-court advantage in a best-of-three first-round series. Indiana has four games remaining, including two against Minnesota, while Atlanta plays five, starting with the Lynx. The season series between the clubs is tied 2-2, with each winning once at home, and last year’s three-game playoff matchup also went the distance.
This seeding shift could shape playoff momentum and fan engagement, as home-court advantage in a tight series often influences outcomes. For Indiana and Atlanta supporters, the final standings may determine travel, ticket demand, and local economic activity around games. The result also highlights how late-season scheduling and opponent rest decisions can alter competitive balance, potentially affecting which team advances and how far, though the remaining games leave room for further change.