HC Stephanie White called her side ‘soft on defensive end’ after the loss against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse arena. The Dream scored at will, and Fever’s own defensive struggles kept them chasing their conference rivals throughout the game. The HC demanded more from Caitlin Clark and co., and in the return fixture, the side delivered just the same. Was the coach pleased with it? Well, to some extent.

The former Connecticut Sun HC, known for her defensive strategies, led the side to consecutive WNBA semifinals. Her new team, on the other hand? It was the very thing they lacked. Fever, strong on the offensive end with Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, were one spot short of being placed last defensively in 2024. Game 2 definitely gave a few flashbacks on that front, but on Thursday, it was the real new and improved Indiana Fever.

The team held Atlanta to 76 points in a road game at the State Farm Center, and needless to say, the HC noticed the upticks. “I felt like our defensive energy, physicality, disruptiveness was better,” she said in the post-game conference.

Well, Brittney Griner & Co. was limited to just 35.8% from the field and 34.5% from the 3 after going 48.5% and 47.1%, respectively, in the previous game. The Fever also went on to grab 41 rebounds and stack 25 fouls by the time the buzzer sounded. Mind you, the Fever were heavily undersized in comparison to the likes of Brianna Jones and Griner. But they kept on. Clark didn’t shy away from trash-talking Rhyne Howard, either, after a shoulder check.

The Fever weren’t backing down after Stephanie White had said, “We have to figure out how to use that physicality against them,” after the loss last Tuesday. And that doesn’t just come about. It is going to need unselfish play and defining chemistry to put up a show, and that is exactly the demand the head coach is making from her locker room.

“We have to choose the ‘We’ over the ‘me’. and we have to stay ready. So, we don’t have to get ready. Every single person impacted this game in a positive way. I’m really proud of them,” she added.

Keeping the defensive end tight, the Fever side also out-rebounded the Atlanta team 41-37, which is a massive improvement considering the fact that the Dream side has a size advantage.

While Clark, Boston, and Mitchell may be the Fever’s offensive core, it wasn’t them basking in the spotlight today. After a 6-point performance last game, Natasha Howard showed up for 24 points. Then came Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull off the bench for 9 and 10 points, respectively. By the time the buzzer had sounded the bench had out-scored Atlanta’s by 16 points and the Fever had put up a total of 21 assists to their opponents 14.

Chemistry building and moving forward as a team had started early for the Fever. “You’ve got to go out of your way to build those [relationships], so when something goes wrong, or you have to hold somebody accountable, they know it’s coming in the best interest of the team,” Clark had said just before the season began. So the team is ticking that box going ahead.

But what about the other improvement Stephanie White requested – Physicality?

Caitlin Clark and team ready for Physicality also…

“We didn’t handle their physicality. I mean, that’s going to be the ammo against us all year long.” White said, assessing the first game against the Dream in 2025, “Teams are going to be physical. They’re going to push us., they’re going to shove us, they’re going to hold us. They’re going to do whatever they’re allowed to get away with.”

Who would know about it more than CC? Caitlin Clark was one of the most fouled players in the 2024 season. Just above 17% of the fragrant fouls were committed on the reigning ROTY. Caitlin promised to be back stronger in 2025, and her gym pics went viral, hinting at the same.

But the real tussle took place on the court. In the opening game against Chicago Sky, Clark had a hard foul on Angel Reese after the Chicago Sky Forward got away with ‘pushing’ Natasha Howard for a rebound. Reese got up, spectators also got out of their seats following ‘never seen before’ play from CC. But it seems that the former Iowa star is ready for the ‘physicality’ of the league now.

In today’s game against the Atlanta Dream, Caitlin once again showed up. “I am not afraid of you,” — she’d trash-talk Rhyne Howard after the physical defense. But she was stopped by her teammates before the incident could take any ugly turn.

And it was not only Caitlin Clark who was fiery on the court. The inclusion of Sophie Cunningham upped the tempo and energy of the Indiana Fever. She and Hull put full-court pressure in closing possessions of the game, while also delivering at the offensive end.

But the team’s real test will be on Friday, May 23, when defending champion New York Liberty will visit Gainbridge Arena.