How does Indiana bounce back from a 75-63 loss to the Golden State Valkyries? No one expected Stephanie White’s team to lose amidst their late-season playoff push, but that’s just how the cards have been dealt this season. The Valks were hitting everything, but the away team couldn’t get anything to go.

Natalie Nakase’s rotations and strategies revealed a huge flaw in Indiana’s system–their perimeter defense. No, we’re not talking about the guards and the three-point specialists, but rather the frontcourt players who get open looks. We saw it happen against GSV, LAS, and basically every team with a forward that can shoot. Sure, the Indiana Fever is maintaining a fast-paced offense and excellent spacing every time they’re trying to score, but their defensive efforts, or lack thereof, are catching the eyes of experts and fans alike.

On Money Mike’s Syndicated Podcast, the show host blasted Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston for the barrage of threes Iliana Rupert unleashed against the Fever. He called them ‘lazy’. “[Aliyah] Boston, Natasha Howard, just laziness giving up three-point shots. We don’t realize it, but you ladies are giving up a lot of buckets. It’s no excuse.” Mike said. “They do not need to sag off of DeWanna Bonner, they do not need to sag off of Alyssa Thomas. And, they do not need to have Boston guarding Alyssa Thomas. If you see any of that? It’s an automatic loss.” It’s one thing to leave traditional bigs on the perimeter, but in today’s day and age? Everyone can shoot the three-ball, and everyone can make jumpers.

Money Mike’s wisdom did not end there, however, as he issued a direct callout to the Indiana Fever head coach, Stephanie White. “She can put herself on the hot seat or take herself off the hot seat.” The podcast host said. So far, White’s comeback year in Indiana has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but can you blame her? She had to redo her backcourt over and over again this season–four major injuries are no joke, after all! Still, a 21-20 (after another loss to Phoenix) record and an almost-guaranteed playoff berth are impressive considering the issues Stephanie White had to face.

However, Mike warned the Fever head coach not to get complacent.”It’s the real deal [now]. Either you’re winning or you’re losing. And it’s not the talent, right? It’s not the talent that’s causing you to lose. It’s because the execution is not being designed.”

But perimeter defense is not where the problems end for the Indiana Fever, especially when it comes to Nate Tibbetts’ team. Phoenix is a team that uses its size very well: Satou Sabally, DeWanna Bonner, and Alyssa Thomas round out the roster and ensure that the Mercury plays a physical brand of basketball. To combat that, Indiana needed their veteran presence to step up in times of crisis. Money Mike had hence raised questions about Natasha Howard’s fitness and durability that White would have to address.

“Can she go 24 minutes and above? No… And that’s gonna be hard for you to dictate on what we can do,” he said, pointing out that Howard’s limited production might be holding back Stephanie White’s team. The podcast host talked about how they need more from the Commissioner’s Cup MVP and how her defensive presence was going to be important against Phoenix. Because “to beat the Phoenix Mercury, you have to get physical with them and stand your ground.” 

But did that really happen?

Natasha Howard unable to uphold the promise made to Stephanie White

White, who’s been preaching the gospel of stepping up amid the injury parade, admitted the Fever basically handed the Valkyries an all-access pass with 50.9% shooting from the field, and 12-of-19 from beyond the arc. She reminded the team once again: if they want to dance in the playoffs, they’d better bring the aggression.

“We were very tentative offensively. We didn’t play with any kind of pace. So even when we had opportunities to run in transition, we were jogging the ball up the floor. We allowed them to set their defense, and they’re one of the best defensive teams in the league, and you can’t allow them to do that,” White had said. So, after falling to Golden State, Natasha Howard didn’t sugarcoat it either. She nodded to the tough road ahead, basically echoing White’s “get your act together” pep talk.

“That’s one thing Steph said in the locker room, every game we play from now on is a playoff game. We’re trying to stay in that playoff race and play in the postseason. Our main thing is that we focus on the scouting report of whoever we got next,” Howard said, as per Chloe Peterson. However, after the first quarter, something stalled that aggression. 

In the 85-79 loss against Phoenix, only three players scored in the first quarter. Howard was one of them, bucketing four points. The issue? Four points is what she scored in the entire game while logging 18 minutes. She didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter. The saddest part is that it was her birthday on the 2nd, and she would have really liked to celebrate it big.

Hopefully, we will see that aggression come out against the Sky and the Mystics. They need those two wins if they want to avoid the fate of being an 8-seed.