Indiana can breathe a sigh of relief.
On Sunday, the Fever (16-15) clinched a berth in the WNBA playoffs for a record 12th consecutive season and currently they have control of the fourth seed thanks to tiebreakers with Chicago and Atlanta, who both are 16-15.
Connecticut, despite an unlikely late-season push, lost to Chicago on Sunday and was eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth straight season.
Now, as the season winds down, the pressure will be all on the Fever to maintain their seeding and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Sun, on the other hand, can start building for the future when the two teams collide at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The Fever have had little time to celebrate after securing their playoff berth on Sunday. Thanks to Erica Wheeler's 17 points, Indiana was able to come from behind to beat the Washington Mystics at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
But now the focus is hanging on to the fourth seed.
Tamika Catchings, in her final season, leads a balanced scoring attack at 12.5 points per game. Eight other players average between 7.8 and 9.8 points per game.
For the Sun, four players average in double figures. Alex Bentley paces the way at 13.2 points per game and Chiney Ogwumike is good for 12.6 points and 6.5 boards a game.
The Fever (16-15) already have won once in Uncasville this year. On June 5, Tiffany Mitchell poured in 21 points and Indiana withstood a Connecticut rally to defeat the Sun, 88-77.
The Sun returned the favor on July 13 with an 86-64 road win in Indiana. The Sun opened up a 17-point lead in the second quarter and Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas combined for 34 points in the win.
