Christie Sides, the head coach of the Fever, sent a severe message amid criticism from Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
While the Fever are 0-5 to start the 2024 WNBA season, Christie Sides is not a fan of the harsh criticism her team has received.
Following Wednesday night’s 85-83 loss to the Seattle Storm, the Indiana Fever remain winless in their first five games of the season. The Fever’s first two losses were by 20 points or more, but over the next three, they reduced the deficits from 11 to four to two.
Following Wednesday’s setback, Indiana head coach Christie Sides stated that the Fever are the most inexperienced team in the WNBA. As a result, she is proud of her players for coming in every day and working hard to find methods to win. On Thursday, Sides’ team rehearsed at USC’s Galen Center in preparation for their Friday night game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Sides was asked what she would say to potential critics of the Fever’s 0-5 start by Nick Hamilton of Nitecast Media.
“The hate and the vile language directed to these players,” Sides stated. “These guys show up every day, striving to do their jobs, learn from one another, and improve. And they have to deal with that after coming.
Fever Falls Short vs. Storm
The Fever has struggled with turnovers in the past, and while having only 11 on Wednesday, the majority of them came in the fourth quarter. Other areas, including as offensive rebounding, deteriorated as the Fever lost another game they were close to winning. Caitlin Clark shone in the third quarter, leading with 21 points. However, she and fellow starter Kelsey Mitchell shot 11-for-33 and 4-for-15 from beyond the arc, respectively.
Meanwhile, Seattle’s former All-Star Nneka Ogwumike returned from an ankle ailment and scored 22 points. Ogwumike, a forward, had more points than Indiana’s starting forwards combined. NaLyssa Smith scored 16 points, while Aliyah Boston had only four points and four fouls. Boston was last year’s #1 overall choice. Clark and the Fever will face No. 2 pick Cameron Brink and the Sparks on Friday, continuing the fight among top drafted players.
“[Boston’s] leadership has been amazing,” Clark added. “We’re navigating this together.”
“Caitlin uses the word grace a lot,” Sides added. “Like, show us some grace. Allow these guys some grace. They deserved it. They do not deserve what is being said. We keep talking about it: turn off the noise. Do not pay anything.
