The Indiana Fever, coached by Christie Sides, have one game remaining on their regular season schedule, against the Washington Mystics on Thursday. The Fever have already secured their position in the WNBA Playoffs, which begin this Sunday. They are now waiting with bated breath for an opponent, well aware that they may be drawn against a team that is expected to defeat them in the first round.
Most WNBA fans across the league believe Clark and the Fever are an up-and-coming squad that isn’t quite ready for prime time, based on Clark’s rookie status and her and Sides’ team’s subpar regular season record (20-19).
“I mean, that’s just part of the fun of it, right?” During Wednesday’s practice, Sides asked the reporters what it’s been like not knowing who the Fever’s first round opponent would be.
“We’ll be ready whenever we know.” The Fever has recently been led by the dynamic duo of Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Clark has ascended to eighth among all scorers in the league, averaging 19.5 points per game,.1 point behind teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who is seventh. Sides also delivered a strong message to her team’s future opponents, supporters, and the rest of the WNBA by responding confidently to a reporter’s inquiry.
She was asked if she had a “feeling” about if it matters who the Fever’s first round opponent. According to Sides, the Fever’s success will be determined by their habits and on-court performance. “That’s what we’ve talked about from day one,” Sides told me. “It is important that we perform what we do at a high level and stay consistent with our habits.
“I think we have an opportunity to compete with anybody in the league.”
