Overview
- Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard scored 20 points each and Naz Hillmon added 16 and nine boards as Atlanta held Indiana to 34.9% shooting and 2-of-15 from deep.
- Kelsey Mitchell posted a playoff-career-high 27 points, but only Odyssey Sims joined her in double figures for the Fever.
- The Fever remain severely depleted, with Caitlin Clark and four others out for the season and Damiris Dantas ruled out again while in concussion protocol.
- Game 2 is Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on ESPN, and a win would force a deciding Game 3 back in Atlanta.
- Atlanta recorded its first playoff win since 2018 after a franchise-best 30-win regular season under coach Karl Smesko, and teams that take Game 1 of a best-of-three advance 71% of the time.