The Indiana Fever dropped their second game of the season in a potential Finals matchup considering the quality of both the teams. But while both the teams had more than enough star power on their sides, the biggest star in the league couldn’t shine through as Clark had a disappointing night. Coach Stephanie White, however, relieves Clark of the blame.
CC had a night she’d want to forget all about, despite recording a double-double where she had 18 points and 10 assists. Clark just couldn’t get her rhythm going since the game started, although she provided 8 assists in the first half, her 10 turnovers in the game shadowed her playmaking. The night got even stranger when Clark couldn’t get a 3 to fall, going 2-11 from beyond the arc, but all would’ve been well had Clark made one of the two shots she had at winning the game. But call it Cloud’s excellent defense or an “egregious” call, it marked an underwhelming game for the Fever guard. And while criticism around her star began to pile up, White used this to serve a reminder to Clark’s teammates.
When asked how she would help her star get out of this mini shooting slump, Coach White said without hesitation, “I think she’s going to find her way out of it”. But at the same time, she urges Clark’s teammates to do more. “We’ve got to get her easier ones. You know, the ones where she’s having to, you know, dribble five or six times and create a shot. You know, some of that is play calling. Some of that is recognition and flow. Some of that is angles of our screens. We’ve got to move her around a little bit more.” White said.
And although coach asks her teammates to relieve the defensive pressure CC faces, she admits her mistake in letting the game get away.
“We had a couple of turnovers and a couple poor shots that led to runout and led to runs. And I have to do a better job of using my timeout sooner. You know, oftentimes you get caught in this, you know, it’s going to be a tight game. You want to keep them for the end of the game. But I should have used one sooner.” said White.
Heading into the 4th quarter, Fever were up by 12 before Liberty got out on a 16-2 run, evaporating the lead while Steph decided not to use her timeout. While the timeout would’ve helped Steph get her troops in line, it is also worthy to note that saving timeouts for the end of the game is crucial when it comes to challenging the refs calls.
Although there’s a lot of points coach White and her team can improve upon, they should be content with where they are considering the little time they’ve played as a group and the fact that the Liberty are champions. So as the Fever look to take on the Mystics next, there are valuable lessons they can take from their contest against New York
Lessons from the Liberty loss
After a tight 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, the Indiana Fever’s path to bouncing back is clearly illuminated by the game’s pivotal moments. For Coach Stephanie White, the focus isn’t on reinventing the wheel, but on refining execution and fortifying the team’s mental toughness, with the final box score providing a precise roadmap.
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark poses for a photo Wednesday, April 30, 2025, during the Indiana Fever media day at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indianapolis , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGracexSmith/IndyStarx USATSI_26053066
The most critical area for improvement is ball security. In a two-point game, Caitlin Clark’s 10 turnovers were devastating. It highlights the need for more poised decision-making against the elite, trapping defenses they will face. The antidote to these high-risk plays was on full display through Aliyah Boston, who was a dominant force with a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds. The blueprint for a bounce-back is clear: run the offense through the high-percentage hands of Boston. Leaning on their star center not only secures points but also creates higher-quality, inside-out looks for shooters, reducing the forced passes that lead to turnovers.
Defensively, the Fever showcased both their potential and their key weakness. Their third-quarter performance was masterful, holding the potent Liberty offense to just 13 points while building a 12-point lead. That stretch proves they can play championship-level defense. However, their inability to sustain it was their undoing. “I think consistency is definitely where we can be a lot better,” Clark said of her team. “Feels like every game we’ve really only put two quarters together. We’re kind of waiting for that four quarters of really good basketball. And I think it’s going to be a learning curve. This group is new. We haven’t played a ton together. But that’s what’s going to have to happen if we want to beat the really good teams in this league.”
This loss, though, is a stepping stone for a team with championship aspirations. White’s willingness to own her mistakes while rallying her squad sets the tone for growth as they head to Washington to face the Mystics, with another shot at the Liberty on June 14.
The team’s mindset, however, is exactly where it needs to be. Aliyah Boston perfectly captured their professional approach, stating, “I think this gives us an opportunity to go back and learn and grow… making sure that when it comes to that fourth quarter, obviously we know we have to dig deep.” That’s the mentality of a team ready to turn a tough loss into fuel as they get on the road to Washington. Their next shot at the champs, however, will come on the 14th of June when they host the team from Brooklyn yet again.
The post Indiana Fever HC Takes the Blame as She Sounds Alarm Inside Locker Room Around Caitlin Clark appeared first on EssentiallySports.