You must have heard about how a change of scenery can make all the difference… and home court might just be it for Indiana today. The Mystics and Fever are both in slumps, DC has lost five of their last six games, while Indy has dropped three of their last four. But the fact that the Fever still hold a 10-7 home record, hosting a Mystics squad that’s just 5-11 on the road, could tip the scales in their favor. On top of that, the Mystics face another disadvantage heading into this matchup. Let’s break it all down.
Where to watch
Date: Friday, Aug. 15
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
TV channel: ION
Live stream: Fubo, League Pass
Injury report:
Fever
Sydney Colson (out for season): Colson tore her left ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.
Aari McDonald (out for season): McDonald is sidelined for the season with a broken bone in her right foot.
Caitlin Clark (out): Clark is still recovering from a groin injury. Head coach Stephanie White explained, “She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full court running with all of her body weight. It’s building up from minimal to longer periods, but she’s not back in practice yet.”
Mystics
Georgia Amoore (out for season): Amoore had surgery to repair her right ACL that she tore before the season began.
Shakira Austin (out): Austin will miss the game with a leg injury.
Jacy Sheldon (out): Sheldon is sidelined with a right ankle injury.
Probable starting lineups
Indiana Fever
Natasha Howard (#6), Aliyah Boston (#7), Kelsey Mitchell (#0), Sophie Cunningham (#8), Lexie Hull (#10)
Washington Mystics
Kiki Iriafen (#44), Stefanie Dolson (#31), Sug Sutton (#1), Sonia Citron (#22), Jade Melbourne (#5)
Indiana Fever vs. Washington Mystics: Who will seize the lead?
The two teams haven’t met in over two months after splitting their first two games this season, so tonight is about gaining the edge before they meet twice more. With Caitlin Clark still out and multiple injuries, Indiana has leaned on a new addition all the way from overseas: guard Kyra Lambert, signed to a seven-day contract.
Despite Stephanie White admitting she’s “unfamiliar” with Lambert, that exposed a whole new league-issue, the guard’s efficiency from beyond the arc could provide a boost, though she’ll need time to adjust.
Defensively, the Mystics have had some glitches in recent games, though their offense remains solid. That said, the Fever are expecting backcourt pressure. White noted, “All our point guards are injured. It’s tough because point guards are the ones who get you organized. There were times when we weren’t organized.” With the Fever short on point guards, Kelsey Mitchell has taken on more ball-handling duties, and she’ll be crucial in keeping the team flowing tonight.
From a playoff perspective, this matchup carries weight for both sides. Indiana sits in sixth place, just two games ahead of the eighth seed, while Washington is currently in 10th, 1.5 games behind Seattle for the final playoff spot. Every win matters at this stage, and both teams are looking to strengthen their cases as the season nears its final stretch.
Prediction: Indiana Fever to win. The home court advantage, combined with a slightly healthier rotation and the Mystics’ road struggles, gives Indy the edge. Still, expect a hard-fought game.
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