INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever proved one of the best ways to face as much as a bully is to remain composed and match the power of its tormentor.
In opposition to the Connecticut Solar — a group the Fever struggled with so totally throughout an early June loss that coach Christy Sides benched 4 of 5 starters early within the fourth quarter — Indiana took their greatest blow and held on for an 84-80 win Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Extra:Sure, that was Simone Biles at Fever sport. And she or he wasn’t the one star to see Indiana win.
‘A very completely different group.’Win over Solar exhibits simply how far Fever have come this yr
The Suns tried to set the tone early throughout a bodily sport that usually drifted towards chippy. Ahead Nylssa Smith left the sport early within the first quarter after taking a blow to the face. Rookie Caitlin Clark discovered herself flat on the court docket after absorbing a number of arduous screens. Almost each unfastened ball led to a tussle for possession and a leap ball.
Earlier than the chippiness might boil over, Sides referred to as a timeout to ensure her group stored its cool, however veteran Kelsey Mitchell wouldn’t let her teammates again down.
“I instructed our group early, I do not care what occurs within the sport, being bullied is not going to be the problem — we is not going to be bullied at present,” Mitchell stated. “For us it was about ensuring we stayed assured. … Do not let nothing simply occur to you. We all know how nice these groups are, however we have got confidence in ourselves too.”
Knocking off the No. 2 group within the W, a group that already clinched a spot within the playoffs, may very well be a giant enhance for the surging Fever. At 15-16, at the moment seventh within the league standings, the Fever aren’t shying away from ideas of postseason basketball. The Fever have simply two gamers — Damiris Dantas and Temi Fagbenle — with postseason expertise, however the ambiance at Gainbridge and the depth on the court docket felt like a playoff sport to the house group.
Clark stated Wednesday’s sport was one of the vital bodily video games she’s ever performed in. Sides added that her group’s capacity to take the arduous hits and proceed to combat confirmed immense development from the start of the season.
“(It confirmed) maturity and toughness at present,” Sides stated. “(The Solar are) the most effective defensive group within the league, they usually simply are going to make all the pieces actually arduous and be very bodily, and you’ll’t let that get to you.
“I felt the sport received actual chippy there for a short while. I referred to as a timeout simply to make it possible for we simply stored our composure. Did not must let that get to us. Simply preserve doing what we had been doing.”
Toughness can’t be quantified on a stat sheet, however Fagbenle’s willingness to do the soiled work was key for the Fever. The veteran didn’t rating a degree, however her 18 +/- was the group’s greatest. Her size affected the Suns drives to the basket, and her willingness to set screens freed up her teammates on the perimeter. She completed with three rebounds and one blocked shot. Lexie Hull led Indiana with eight rebounds. Aliyah Boston and Smith had six rebounds every.
“If you wish to ask, what received this sport — defensive rebounding. I would not have been capable of say that previously,” Sides stated. “We did a hell of a job. We had 5 stops to finish the sport within the final two minutes and 50 seconds. They didn’t rating. That is unimaginable.
“That may be a nice group. Simply how they’ve locked in and took pleasure on that finish of the flooring is making a distinction for us.”