Caitlin Clark and Fever get one more Lynx test, with playoff position still at stake

Caitlin Clark and the Fever secured a victory over Minnesota in a crucial regular-season game, with the outcome still affecting their playoff positioning. Indiana's star player Caitlin Clark had an impressive game, scoring 27 points, dishing out nine assists, and grabbing seven rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell contributed 20 points to the win.

The Fever, currently at 28-15, find themselves fifth in the WNBA standings, trailing Atlanta who has locked up the No. 4 seed and first-round home-court advantage. Washington, at 27-16, remains just behind Indiana. Indiana cannot climb into the top four, but their final position still holds significance. A loss accompanied by a Mystics win could see Indiana and Washington tied at 28-16, with Washington holding the tiebreaker.

A fifth-place finish for Indiana would have them facing Atlanta in the first round, while a sixth-place finish would result in a different opponent and road assignment. The WNBA has not yet finalized all seedings, and Thursday's game is focused on securing the best possible position. Minnesota has already clinched the top seed and will have to manage their players before the playoffs.

For Indiana, the game is about finishing with purpose and entering the opening round of the playoffs with a secured seed. The WNBA playoffs kick off on Sunday, September 27.