Clark vs Reese, a Dream matchup: How Atlanta's latest win sets the stage for blockbuster playoff series

I ndiana ’s impressive win over Minnesota briefly kept alive the possibility of opening the WNBA playoffs at home, but that window closed less than 24 hours later.

The Fever beat the league-leading Lynx 96-77 on Tuesday behind another huge performance from Caitlin Clark , who finished with 27 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals.

The result moved Indiana to 28-15 and kept the No.4 seed within reach, but Atlanta ended that chase Wednesday. The Dream defeated the New York Liberty 83-65 at Barclays Center, locking up fourth place and home-court advantage in the opening round.

Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 24 points and five assists, while Naz Hillmon added 16. That leaves Indiana with a much simpler, and less favorable, equation entering Thursday’s regular-season finale.

Fever still control fifth or sixth place finish

Indiana can no longer catch Atlanta, but it can still protect the No.5 seed with a win over Minnesota.

A loss would open the door for Washington. If the Mystics beat the Chicago Sky while Indiana falls to the Lynx, the Fever could drop to sixth. The difference is significant.

Finishing fifth would send Indiana into a first-round matchup with Atlanta. Falling to sixth would instead mean a series against either the Las Vegas Aces or Golden State Valkyries .

Either way, the Fever will begin the postseason without home-court advantage.

Clark on one of best runs of career

The timing of the setback is notable because Clark has been playing some of her best basketball of the season.

Over her last five games, she is averaging 30.2 points, 10.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting 49.0% from the field and 44.9% from 3-point range.

Indiana said Clark became the first player in WNBA history to average at least 30 points and 10 assists across a five-game span.

She is now averaging 22.8 points and 8.5 assists over 39 games this season and has scored more than 25 points in five consecutive outings.

Atlanta matchup brings immediate first-round intrigue

A Fever-Dream series would carry obvious interest because of the history surrounding Clark and Angel Reese , but the basketball matchup itself would be demanding.

WNBA analyst Monica McNutt called it “a thrilling matchup” and pointed to how competitive the teams have been during the regular season.

“They are tied in terms of their matchups during the regular season and that last one in particular required overtime for Indiana to put the Dream away,” McNutt said.

She also highlighted Atlanta’s ability to defend Indiana’s perimeter threats.

“The Dream is a unique matchup for the Fever in that they have multiple bodies they can throw at Kelsey Mitchell,” McNutt added.

Indiana’s offense has been one of the league’s most productive behind Clark , Mitchell and Aliyah Boston , but Atlanta’s win Wednesday guaranteed that any potential series will start on the Dream ’s floor.

The Fever still have one game left to shape their path. What they no longer have is a route back into the top four.