Boston and Harris exit with injuries as Fever fall in season finale: Likes and Dislikes
Some scary injuries as the Fever ended the season on a low note.
MY KITCHEN COUNTER, Ind. – The Indiana Fever reached the end of their 2026 regular season campaign on Thursday. They were in Minnesota to battle the top-seeded Lynx in game 44 for both teams, their last outing before the playoffs.
Minnesota entered the game having already locked up the top seed for the entire postseason while the Fever could finish either fifth or sixth, pending their own result and what happened in the game between the Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky.
The Fever would find out later in the night if they were going to play Atlanta, Las Vegas, or Golden State in the first round. In the meantime, they hoped to take care of business one more time before the postseason. Once again, star rookie Olivia Miles was out for Minnesota. Likes and Dislikes from Fever vs Lynx.
Tony East
DISLIKE: Early shot defense
While the Fever's defensive pressure did well to force four turnovers in the first four minutes of play, their work on the less glamorous end of the court was still subpar to kick off the action.
The Lynx were getting whatever shots they wanted – starting the game with three makes right at the basket and two three pointers from the left wing. They started 6/8 from the field and scored 12 points, about three per minute, to get going.
The Fever made it easier with many turnovers themselves, plus a 2/18 start from the field. That put Minnesota in the open floor often. It was defense, as usual, holding the Fever back early.
DISLIKE: Ok, the early offense is poor too
6.5 minutes into this game, it was 21-4 Lynx. 21 is an awful number to concede that quickly, and the reasons are mostly noted above.
But four points in well over six minutes is equally dreadful. Only Caitlin Clak and Aliyah Boston had scored in that stretch. The Fever missed 16 of their first 18 shots and had four turnovers at the game's second stoppage.
Their jump shots weren't falling. The ball movement was not crisp. Possessions ended with jumpers too often as the Fever started 0/10 from deep. Ty Harris finally hit a three after the Fever missed their first 11 triples, and the Fever fell down by over 20 points in the first quarter.
It was a hideous start to the game, and the Lynx were ahead 32-13 after one frame.
DISLIKE: No improvements
The Fever's physicality was much better early in the second quarter. Myisha Hines-Allen was powering her way to layups, Raven Johnson was scoring around the cup, and the team was generally a bit better offensively. After starting 2/18 from the field, the Fever made seven of their next 11 shots.
And yet, their deficit continued to climb. They could not stop the Lynx, who reached 50 points less than 17 minutes into the game after a three from Courtney Williams. At that time, Minnesota was shooting about 60% from the field and kept finding ways to generate wide open threes.
Any team will look off if they can't make jump shots, and the Fever were 1/17 from deep with halftime approaching. But their defense was miserably bad, particularly at the team level, and they weren't improving after a sluggish start. Something had to change.
DISLIKE: A new worst
The Fever's previous high in points allowed during one half this season was 60, which came in the first half of their opening game.
They eclipsed that mark Thursday night, conceding 62 points against Minnesota in the first 20 minutes. The Lynx shot 11/18 from deep with most of the looks being wide open. And they were even better – 13/19 – on two-point shots.
It was an ugly half for the Fever, who scored just 32 points themselves. That nears their season-low on the offensive end. They were down 30 at the break (62-32) in a miserable outing. Editorializing: I wonder if Stephanie White will copy Cheryl Reeve's strategy from two nights earlier and bench her starters for the second half.
DISLIKE: Ailments
The big risk in games like this – one with little to play for – is injuries. Boston exited the second quarter with 2:44 on the clock, then didn't start the second half. The USA Network broadcast flashed a shot of the Fever's bench in the third quarter and Boston wasn't there.
Monique Billings started the third quarter at center. The Fever later shared that Boston was out for the rest of the game with a right lower leg injury. That's the same ailment that has held her out of previous contests this season.
DISLIKE: More injuries
With 3:28 to go in the third quarter, Harris was driving to the basket when she landed awkwardly attempting a layup. She hit the hardwood and reached for her lower left leg.
It was instantly clear that the injury was bad. Harris couldn't get up, then was surrounded by teammates on the court with towels around her. The arena was silent until they clapped as she was picked up and carried off the court.
It seemed like there was an emphasis from the training staff to keep Harris' leg straight while carrying her to the locker room. She did not return to the game with what the Fever called a left ankle injury.
LIKE: Clearing the bench
Tongue in cheek here, but the Fever rightly cleared their bench in the middle of the third quarter, down by 35 points. It was needed with little to play for. The starters had to get out of the game with no chance at earning a win.
The rest of the game would be about reserves, as it should be with their playoff seed all but locked up. They were down 30+ and the Washington Mystics had won their game, meaning the Fever were headed for the sixth overall seed.
Minnesota countered by bringing in their own reserves. It was 76-41 Lynx after three quarter.
LIKE: Some intrigue from the reserves
The Fever's biggest deficit in this game was 36, but their reserves did well to trim that down into the low 20s in the fourth quarter.
Grace Van Slooten, Bree Hall, Lexie Hull, Johnson, and Michell Onyiah played the last frame. Van Slooten got to the line for seven foul shots. Onyiah did well on the glass. Hall made some shots, as did Hull. Johnson had four assists in the quarter.
Hall and Onyiah won't be eligible for the playoffs, so their season ended in this game. The reserves cut the Lynx's edge to 20 as the Fever fell 86-66. It dropped the Fever to 28-16, and they'll be the sixth seed in the playoffs – they'll take on Golden State or Las Vegas in the first round.
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