The Indiana Fever are struggling right now…struggling to keep a lead and finish out games. The Fever have lost their last four games, after winning five in a row. Down the stretch, the Fever controlled their own destiny. Win and earn the top-seed, but clearly it didn’t happen.
Every team in the east is very competitive. The top-seeded Washington Mystics already lost their series against a strong Atlanta Dream team two-nil. The New York Liberty have the better seed in this series and hope to use it to their advantage. They took care of business at home, and should they not win tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse, the Liberty return home to New York for Game three.
Indiana’s success in recent years is something not to take for granted. Many of these WNBA franchises have been struggling with talent and wins. But not Indiana. For a sixth consecutive year, the Fever are in the playoffs. And they are one of just three franchises that have five 20+ win seasons in a six-year period. Not bad right?
But Indiana has yet to capture the ultimate prize…a WNBA Championship. 9 of the 11 players on this years roster, felt last years heartbreak. They were at home, able to close it out but didn’t; they were within two minutes of winning the cities first women’s basketball title.
The Fever are led by one of the faces of the WNBA, veteran Tamika Catchings who will be announced as the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for a record FOURTH time. Catchings is also expected to receive the league’s Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award today. This will be the sixth year of an all-defensive team, and Catchings has made first team EVERY time. She is having her best season yet, and is well-deserving of the WNBA’s MVP. Seattle’s Lauren Jackson and New York’s Cappie Pondexter are the top three in contention. Because of the Storm’s dominate and stellar season, Jackson is the clear favorite.
The Fever will need a team effort today to stay alive in the eastern conference semi-finals against the Liberty. The game will be played in front of a national audience on ESPN2 and hopefully the Fever faithful will be loud and proud, making their presence known. A sellout like last year…? We’ll see, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
Only once in Fever history, in 2006, have they lost 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs, and they don’t look to bow out today. Catchings and the supporting cast must guard the perimeter, dominate the boards, and get to the free throw line. New York is the best percentage three-point shooting team in the league, and Leilani Mitchell has hit 14-18 three-pointers against Indiana. It’s evident they can shoot.
Cappie Pondexter who led the charge for Phoenix Mercury last year is carrying the load for New York. She blew up for 40 in a game at the Garden earlier this year. She goes on streaks and must be denied. If she is rolling, as will NY.
Indiana has the veteran leadership, experience and talent to win a WNBA title. The players are determined and focused with the prize in mind. But they first must get out of the first series. It’s not going to be easy and Indiana cannot get off to a slow start—that’s been a killer.
You can bet Conseco Fieldhouse will be rockin’ tonight on ESPN2.