Everything was on the line, and Caitlin Clark had the ball in hand. That’s exactly what fans had been begging for during their loss to the Atlanta Dream, when Clark inbounded the ball instead of taking the decisive shot. Now she had that chance. Fever needed two points to tie and three to win over the New York Liberty. Clark tried to wiggle around Natasha Cloud, but to no avail. Cloud got just enough on it to knock the ball out of Clark’s control, and that was the end for the Fever. The Liberty continued their winning streak. Now, Stephanie White dropped her two cents after the game.

The Fever had once led by 12 points in the fourth quarter, but Jonquel Jones and Natasha Cloud quickly erased that gap. At times, it felt like the Liberty could score at will—the only thing slowing them down were the Fever’s occasional counterattacks.

Head coach Stephanie White acknowledged the team’s strengths as well as the areas they struggle to contain. She said during the postgame press conference: “We have to do a better job collectively of understanding that individually we don’t have to make the play that stops the run or turns the tide. We have to continue to do what allowed us to be successful in the third quarter, and that’s ball movement—one-second basketball.” An example of ‘that’ play would be the steal from Natasha Cloud in the final moments or even that three-point jumper in the third quarter to draw the foul from Caitlin Clark.

As of now, it seems they have the tricks to go forward. However, they can’t apply the same on defense. We had Cloud steal the ball five times in this game. Such tenacity is something lacking in the Fever. They currently don’t have the individual brilliance like Cloud, and it is okay as long as you play around with it as a team. 

As White pointed out, the third quarter showcased some of the best basketball the Fever have played all season. With crisp ball movement, bullet passes, and quick decision-making, they surged ahead. But once they eased off the gas, the Liberty responded with immediate intensity.

Sustaining that high level of play is the next big challenge. Stephanie White wants the team to lean into their strengths rather than dwell on their weaknesses during games. That’s something to address behind the scenes. On the court, the focus needs to remain on executing what they know works.

Underwhelming start to the season for the Fever?

Prior to the start of the season, a quick scroll through social media would have made you think the Indiana Fever were the team to beat. Built to dominate, their roster promised offensive firepower and relentless pace. With Caitlin Clark leading the charge, it seemed they could cruise through the regular season.

That hype only grew after their opening game against the Chicago Sky, where they blew out Angel Reese and company. Clark posted a triple-double, the defense looked sharp, and the Fever appeared ready to live up to expectations.

But reality hit hard in their matchup against the Atlanta Dream. Brittney Griner and company physically overpowered the Indiana side, handing them their first loss. Even in that game, the Fever had a chance to win it at the buzzer—just like today—but fell short. Though they managed to bounce back and win the rematch, it was a scrappy affair and an uncharacteristic performance from Clark.

The Fever now sit at 2–2 after four games, while their direct competitors—the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx—remain unbeaten. Caitlin Clark is firmly in the race for Player of the Year, but she’s facing stiff competition from stars like A’ja Wilson, Natasha Cloud, and Napheesa Collier, who are all off to flying starts.

However, there’s some context behind Indiana’s uneven start. Their early-season schedule has been tougher than most. They’ve already faced the Atlanta Dream twice and the Liberty once—teams expected to be among the top contenders.

Upcoming matchups against the Mystics, Wings, and Sun offer opportunities for the Fever to bounce back, as they are favored in those contests. Notably, Minnesota has already played the Wings twice, giving them a slight advantage in strength of schedule. Meanwhile, the Liberty appear to be in a league of their own, looking nearly unbeatable.

Next up for Stephanie White and the Fever: a matchup against the Washington Mystics and their impressive rookie duo, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, who are already making waves.