Nothing has gone to plan for the Indiana Fever this season, and all the feelings which have constructed up over a troublesome three months got here pouring out of coach Stephanie White on Sunday following her workforce’s historic comeback win over the Connecticut Solar.
After dropping Sophie Cunningham to what seems to be a critical knee harm, the Fever rallied from 21 factors right down to pressure extra time. Within the further body, All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell took over and scored 10 of her profession high-tying 38 factors to guide the Fever to a much-needed 99-93 win. The 21-point comeback was not solely the largest within the WNBA this season, however the greatest in Fever franchise historical past.
Kelsey Mitchell ties profession excessive, performs hero in extra time as Fever full largest comeback in workforce historical past
Jack Maloney
Within the locker room after the sport, White addressed the workforce and praised her gamers for his or her resilience, each on Sunday and all through the season, as tears streamed down her face.
Right here is White’s emotional speech in full:
“I am so f—ing pleased with you. I am so pleased with you guys,” White stated. “I do know that typically it seems like only a f—ing phrase once we discuss being resilient, however it’s not man, it is how we reside. It is how y’all reside and it is a tribute to you, it is a tribute to your connectedness, your togetherness, your toughness, your mindset, your never-give-up gritty attitudes. That is what it takes. That is what it takes. We’ll by no means, by no means be counted out, as a result of that shit is value it is weight in gold. As a result of that shit is value f—ing gold.
“[Kelsey Mitchell], god rattling child. You set us in your again. That was large time. [Brianna Turner], you’re the consumate skilled. We love you, we admire you. You had been enormous. [Aliyah Boston], level ahead. Look, you may’t underestimate what it means to have any individual like her who simply does no matter we ask. I imply, all people, actually. Lex, that was an enormous f—ing three. [Natasha Howard], your exercise all f—ing night time lengthy.
“That is what it is gonna take, that is what it is gonna take. We gotta play free, we gotta play with no strain, however we f—ing combat. Stay that resilience each f—ing day, and we’ll accomplish what we wish to accomplish.”
Fever with out Caitlin Clark for many of season
The Fever entered the season with championship expectations and scored a 35-point victory on opening day behind a triple-double from Caitlin Clark. Since then, nevertheless, little has gone proper in Indianapolis.
- Clark has handled three completely different gentle tissue accidents — left quad, left groin, proper groin — which have restricted her to 13 appearances. She hasn’t performed since July 15 and doesn’t have a return timeline with simply weeks remaining within the schedule.
- DeWanna Bonner, their marquee free agent signing within the offseason, compelled her manner out of city after simply 9 video games.
- Aari McDonald, who first joined the workforce on a hardship contract, and later signed for the rest of the season after Bonner’s departure, broke her foot and was dominated out for the rest of the season.
- Sydney Colson, who was purported to be primarily a locker room presence, however had performed actual minutes resulting from Clark’s harm, suffered a torn ACL and was dominated out for the rest of the season.
- Cunningham, whom they acquired for a first-round choose in the course of the offseason, missed the start of the season resulting from an ankle harm and went down with what gave the impression to be a critical knee harm on Sunday. She is going to endure an MRI on Monday to find out the severity of the harm.
With Clark out and in of the lineup, and quite a few different accidents, the Fever have struggled to seek out any consistency. After Sunday’s win, they sit in seventh place at 19-16, a far cry from the place they hoped to be at this stage of the season.
As their comeback confirmed, nevertheless, the Fever refuse to surrender. If they’ll get Clark again earlier than the playoffs, maybe they’ll nonetheless make some noise this season.
