Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides expressed frustration over her team's lack of mental toughness after their 102-66 defeat to the New York Liberty, emphasizing the need to respond to adversity and improve their overall resilience.
Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides has demanded a higher level of mental toughness from her team following their disappointing 102-66 loss to the New York Liberty on Thursday night. Sides' frustrations stem from the Fever's inability to respond effectively to the Liberty's aggressive play, resulting in a series of turnovers and missed opportunities.
In her post-game press conference, Sides emphasized the importance of responding to adversity with equal force. "You've gotta give some of that back," she said. "We've got to get to another level of mental toughness."
The Fever's mental resilience was put to the test throughout the game. Despite facing constant pressure from the Liberty defense, Indiana committed 13 turnovers, including several unforced errors. Forward Aliyah Boston and Liberty star Jonquel Jones engaged in a prolonged battle under the basket, further highlighting the Fever's struggles to maintain composure in the face of adversity.
In the crucial third quarter, Indiana had an opportunity to regain momentum but missed crucial shots, allowing the Liberty to extend their lead. The fourth quarter proved to be equally frustrating as the Fever's deficit was cut to just 11 points before the Liberty launched a devastating 13-2 run to put the game out of reach.
Sides' concerns extended beyond the final score. She noted that guard Caitlin Clark, who was highly touted upon joining the Fever, had a relatively quiet performance with nine points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three turnovers. Clark declined to speak to reporters after the game.
Despite the disappointing start to the season, Sides remains optimistic. "I have great perspective of everything, and I think the same is true of my college career," she said. "There were some moments that were absolutely amazing, and there were some moments where I was not happy with how I played and how I performed and how my team performed. But that's just life. That's just basketball."
The Fever will have an opportunity to bounce back on Sunday when they face the Connecticut Sun. The Liberty, on the other hand, will look to continue their winning ways against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday.
