Seattle Storm On SI

Seattle Storm Slip in Playoff Race After Loss vs Indiana Fever

Seattle falls to 20–19 after a 95–75 defeat, undone by rebounding and turnovers in a matchup with playoff stakes.

Edward Blair II

Seattle Storm guard Erica Wheeler (17) rebounds the ball Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Seattle Storm, 95-75.
Seattle Storm guard Erica Wheeler (17) rebounds the ball Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Seattle Storm, 95-75. / Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Storm Lose Their Edge

Seattle came in playing well. Four wins in five had put the Seattle Storm back in the playoff mix. But Tuesday night in Indianapolis, that progress vanished in a 95–75 loss to the Indiana Fever.

The defeat dropped Seattle to 20–19, pushing them behind the very team they were trying to separate from.

Offense Out of Rhythm

Nneka Ogwumike was steady with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Brittney Sykes added 12, and Ezi Magbegor scored 8 with 3 blocks. But too often the offense stalled.

Skylar Diggins had 6 points and 8 assists but only took three shots. Gabby Williams was held to two points in 18 minutes. When the backcourt can’t create, Seattle’s attack shrinks, and that showed here.

The Storm hit 47.5% from the field and 35% from three. On paper, good enough. In reality, not nearly enough volume or balance.

The Boards Told the Story

Indiana owned the glass. The Fever pulled down 42 rebounds to Seattle’s 21, a gap that changed the game. Twelve of those came on the offensive end, keeping possessions alive and draining Seattle’s defense.

Then came the turnovers. Seattle gave it away 13 times, and Indiana turned those mistakes into transition points. Against a desperate team, that margin was decisive.

Feve
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) reacts to a call Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. / Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Fever Find Openings

Aliyah Boston gave Seattle trouble all night. She scored 27 points with 9 rebounds and drew the Storm’s defense into constant rotations. Kelsey Mitchell added 22 and Odyssey Sims chipped in 21. Every time Seattle helped on Boston, the guards made them pay.

Magbegor
Indiana Fever guard Aerial Powers (23) goes up for a basket against Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor (13) on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. / Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Clark Out, Spotlight Still There

Caitlin Clark sat for the 15th straight game and 25th overall with groin and ankle injuries, but her presence lingered. Earlier in the day, Nike unveiled her “CC” logo, and she arrived in the gear before tip. Indiana played its best game of August, but Clark’s brand was still part of the story.

Clark
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) T-shirts line the arena Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, before a game between the Indiana Fever and the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. / Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Playoff Picture Tightens

The Storm’s loss pushed them under pressure with just a few games left. At 20–19, they now trail Indiana and hold less margin for error. The inability to rebound and the lack of offensive balance will be central questions as they head into a road matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. ET.

Seattle has shown resilience before. To avoid slipping further, they will need it again next game.

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Edward Blair II
EDWARD BLAIR II

Edward Blair II is a sportscaster, journalist, and multimedia professional covering the Seattle Storm for Sports Illustrated’s On SI platform. He also writes for Illinois On SI and Last Word on College Football, providing coverage of the Fighting Illini and Michigan Wolverines. Blair is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). He brings a unique voice shaped by years of coaching, podcasting, and content creation across multiple platforms. In addition to his writing, Blair is the host of The Ed Blair Podcast and an intern video editor with Roundtable Sports Network, where he edits NFL content. He also serves as a freelance production assistant with Fox Sports, having worked major events including the IndyCar 500 content week.

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