The Indiana Fever has already been labeled as ‘inconsistent’ after giving away too many crucial points in recent games, despite being acknowledged as one of the title contenders. Their alternate identity showed up against the Sparks once again as they conceded 3 points in the final minute and failed to score any themselves, losing 89-87.
Granted, the Fever were without star point guard Caitlin Clark, who missed her fifth straight game due to a left groin injury. However, the team seemed to have coped with her absence in the previous games. They now have 4 wins in their last 6 games, with both losses coming against the Sparks. So, Kelsey Plum and co. seems to have become a sort of bogey team for the Fever. After the close loss, the most experienced member on the roster, Natasha Howard, gave a clear message to her side going forward.
When asked what has been the cause for the close losses in recent days, Howard simply said, “Uh, keeping them off the free-throw line. Uh, and just taking care of the ball at the end of the shred. That’s the main thing that we’ve been talking about over and over again.”
Fever gave away 24 fouls in this game compared to Sparks’ 21, which was one of the main points of difference between them. Fever even gave away a foul in the final seconds of the game when they were just trailing by 1 and still had a chance to win the game. Mistakes in crucial situations have cost the Fever heavily this season. The team is the second-worst among its peers in fouling this season, giving away 20.9 per game, only better than the Connecticut Sun.
These fouls change the flow of the game for them. They not only provide opponents easy points but also gives them time to regroup and organize. Going forward, opponents will set up to know this as the shot clock goes down, they will just look to drive, knowing the Fever will likely foul them. Unless they change the way they defend, opponents are bound to continue exploiting this weakness.
“This is a group that’s pretty locked in in terms of their energy, their effort, understanding what we’re trying to do,” Coach Stephanie White said. “But it takes another gear sometimes. … If there’s some physical tiredness, we have to combat that with mental sharpness.”
That tiredness may be causing the lack of concentration in the final moments for the Fever. The fatigue factor could be showing up in the Fever’s late-game lapses, especially in the form of unnecessary fouls. These mental errors, driven by physical exhaustion, point to a deeper issue. The team may be fundamentally sound, but when the pressure builds and the clock winds down, they struggle to stay locked in.
Indiana Fever still searching for consistency in Clark’s absence
The Indiana Fever seemed to have the perfect ingredients for the best dish prior to the season. But as things go, it has not worked out like they had planned. Caitlin Clark has spent the majority of her time recuperating. De Wanna Bonner fell out with the locker room and was replaced by the emerging Lexie Hull and Aari McDonald. The latter seems like she has played for the Fever forever and this squad for years, seamlessly gelling into the group.
However, the team still needs to find some consistency to build on their recent success. They have not had a winning streak of more than two this season, blipping every third game. Fortunately, they brought their A-game to the Commissioners Cup and got a trophy under their belt, the kind of authority their WNBA season has been begging for.
Jul 1, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Indiana Fever team poses for a team photo after defeating the Indiana Fever during the Commissioner’s Cup final at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Fever guard Sydney Colson believes consistency will come with time as she said, “Gradually going to happen over time, and we’ve seen it over the course of the season, there’s been peaks and valleys. And you try to lessen how many valleys there are and get to a point where we’re having more peaks.”
The veteran doesn’t have the numbers when compared to some others, but her experience will be key in achieving that consistency. This is still a young team, especially after Bonner left, with only Howard and Colson remaining with more than 6 years of experience. Stephanie White will be busy perfecting this team as they have 3 days between games, and they will hope for some good news regarding Clark’s comeback. She has started some workouts in practice according to White, but no real physical training yet.
Her comeback might just give the team more impetus as the Indiana Fever are still a work in progress. With emerging talents, experienced leaders like Natasha Howard and Sydney Colson, and a coaching staff that understands what it takes to win, the foundation is strong. The challenges of fatigue, fouling, and inconsistency are clear, but so is the potential. With time, focus, and greater composure in critical moments, this team can start turning narrow losses into statement wins.
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