The Indiana Fever have spent the better part of the last decade searching for stability. On Sunday, they found it in the form of a 94-65 win over the Washington Mystics that clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season.

It had been seven long years between Tamika Catchings’ final game in 2016 and last year’s breakthrough postseason return. Now, Indiana has back-to-back trips secured for the first time since its 11-year streak of appearances from 2005 to 2016.

The latest chapter came against daunting odds. The Fever’s roster has been decimated by season-ending injuries, most notably to Caitlin Clark, who managed just 13 games before being sidelined. Guards Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham and Chloe Bibby followed her to the injury list, forcing Indiana to sign four hardship players and dress 18 different players this season.

None of it stopped them from delivering the franchise’s first winning record in a decade.

“We never doubted ourselves. We never doubted that we could be in the playoffs, even if things looked like it got harder,” said Aliyah Boston, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick who recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds. “I think through everything, you're able to see us play with joy and stay together, regardless of who's on the floor.”

The game itself reflected that spirit. Indiana led by seven at the half but smothered Washington after the break, ratcheting up defensive pressure to force 21 turnovers. Five players finished in double figures, with Aerial Powers scoring 15 and Shey Peddy adding 13 to support Boston.

Fever head coach Stephanie White said the locker room savored the moment while staying mindful of the bigger picture.

“With all the stuff that we've been through, most teams would have folded, and we just kept getting stronger,” White said. “These women in the locker room deserve a lot of credit for their ability to stay resilient, to stay together, to stay hungry and to stay the course.”

The victory was Indiana’s 23rd, setting a single-season franchise record during the longest schedule in WNBA history at 44 games. The team’s past two wins, both against eliminated opponents, have come by a combined 49 points, offering momentum heading into the postseason.

For the Mystics, the night was another reminder of a lost season, though the setting in Baltimore’s CFG Arena drew attention. It was Washington’s second contest there while Capital One Arena undergoes renovations, offering fans a chance to see the Fever celebrate their milestone on the road.

White emphasized that, regardless of what the Fever accomplish in this year’s playoffs, the journey through attrition has already provided value.

“I look at this group and the roots that have been grown throughout the course of the season, thinking about not just where we are now and the opportunity that we have in the playoffs, but where we're going to be in the future,” White said. “When you can go through and grow through these types of experiences, it lays a foundation for championship culture and championship mindset. And ultimately, that's our ultimate goal.”

Indiana will close the regular season Tuesday against the Minnesota Lynx. No matter the result, the Fever will open the playoffs on Sept. 14 and host a postseason game in Indianapolis for the first time since 2015.