Win tonight in Indianapolis, or the Fever's season is over. No cushion left. If you're just joining us: Indiana came into these playoffs as the six seed, third year in a row they've landed there. Then Game 1 in Las Vegas went 102-85 the wrong way. A'ja Wilson scored 38, and the Aces turned 17 Fever turnovers into 28 points. Backup guard Ty Harris is out with a broken left fibula, and Aliyah Boston played through a lower-leg injury. And somehow Caitlin Clark's sneakers are ALSO a storyline tonight. This is the Indiana Fever Daily Podcast. Game 2 first, drive-in shoes later. Starting with the only question that matters at tip. What does Indiana actually change? Here's OurSports Central:
The Fever can take solace in the fact that they were in a similar position a year ago, when they dropped Game 1 of their first-round series in Atlanta. They rallied to win Game 2 and then also took Game 3 on the road to advance to the WNBA semifinals.
Gray and Young: thirty-five points, eighteen assists in Game 1. Everybody's drawing up A'ja coverages, but if those two get to pick apart the rotation again, it doesn't matter what you do in the paint. That's the tape I'd be burning tonight. Sunday's 102-85 in Vegas is behind them. Tonight it's Gainbridge, 6:30 Eastern on Prime, and win or the season's over. The Fever preview has Aliyah Boston at center with Makayla Timpson next to her, so the listed plan is two bigs on Wilson. But I want to see her moving clean in warmups before I trust that lower leg for thirty-plus minutes. And Timpson starting tonight, against a four-time MVP? Those are real minutes now. Plus last year's Atlanta comeback, dropping Game 1 then winning 2 and 3, is a nice receipt. Stephanie White literally said the past meant nothing, though, and I kind of hope the players believe her. The receipt only cashes if the shooting shows up. Clark and Mitchell went 10-for-33, four of twelve from three, while Vegas shot 59.4 percent. Clark's ten assists were fine. Two of the league's top three scorers have to score like it, or Wilson's 15-of-19 won't even be the headline. WISH-TV, with Gregg Montgomery:
A drive-in theater will pivot from movies for basketball Tuesday when it hosts a free community watch party for Game 2 of the Indiana Fever’s first-round WNBA playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces. Nike is to thank for the fun at Holiday Drive-In. The audience will be among the first who can buy Caitlin 1 shoes, the highly anticipated signature kicks that go on sale Oct. 1 worldwide.
Okay, I'll allow one shoe story today, and it's because of where it is. Holiday Drive-In in Reo, Spencer County, ten miles off the Ohio River, six 70-foot screens, the Moseley family's been running it since '78. That's Fever basketball getting to people who are never making the drive to Gainbridge on a Tuesday. Love the screens. But look at the calendar. Caitlin 1 goes on sale worldwide October first, and Nike picked an elimination game to give 520 cars first crack at buying them. The launch pad is a must-win. Sure, and the free concessions for the first thousand fans are still free. Friendship bracelets, 2K lounge, yard games. Some kid in Rockport's gonna remember that night either way. I just want them watching a win. Which brings it right back to the preview. Gates open at 4:30 Central, tip's 5:30 there, 6:30 in Indy. And before anybody in Reo buys a pair, what I actually want to know is whether Aliyah Boston looks right in warmups against Wilson. If you're enjoying the Indiana Fever Daily Podcast, please subscribe or leave us a review wherever you're listening. Reviews help other people find the show, and we appreciate you being here.
We're watching Game 2 between the Fever and Aces Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Prime Video. A loss ends Indiana's season, and a win forces a winner-take-all Game 3. Caitlin Clark's Nike Caitlin 1 signature shoe goes on sale worldwide October 1. Links to every story are in the show notes, so check out whichever ones caught your attention. That's the Indiana Fever Daily Podcast for today. This is a Lantern Podcast.