Christie Sides Reveals What the Indiana Fever Must Focus on to Make WNBA Playoffs
Now just 10 days away from their month-long break of games ending, the Indiana Fever are back to practicing at full steam.
After starting the 2024 regular season with an abysmal 1-8 record, Indiana has rebounded by improving to 11-15. They also now hold the No. 7 spot in the WNBA standings. Therefore, if the Fever can maintain their position, they will earn their team's first trip to the playoffs since 2016.
While Indiana is a much-improved team compared to where they were earlier this season, head coach Christie Sides knows there's still a lot to work on if the Fever will make their playoff plans a reality.
Sides spoke with the media on Tuesday. When asked about what in the Fever's last stretch of games she's most looking for them to carry over when the season resumes, Sides said, "You know... defensively is what we've really got to focus on," per Scott Agness.
"Offensively, we're averaging, what, 87 points [per game]?" Sides continued. "Our turnovers are really something we have to really stay top of mind. And that's something we have stayed top of mind these last few practices.
"But just defense, and getting stops. Transition defense, especially. You know, our turnovers are causing some of those transition baskets. So if we can clean that up, that... will help take care of that as well," she concluded.
Indiana's team defense rating of 108.2 is second-worst in the WNBA. The 12.8 second chance points per game their opponents receive is last in the league, so rebounding would seem to be something else they could improve down the stretch.
While Sides' Fever squad is a long shot to compete for a WNBA championship this year, ending their seven-season playoff drought would be a big step for Caitlin Clark and Company.
GRANT YOUNG
Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.