Standing Strong Fever Refuse to Be Bullied in Victory Over WNBA’s 2nd-Best Sun

 The Indiana Fever demonstrated that the best way to confront a formidable opponent is to remain composed and match their intensity.

In a hard-fought game against the Connecticut Sun — a team that had previously overwhelmed the Fever to the point where coach Christy Sides benched most of her starters in a June loss — Indiana stood firm and secured an 84-80 victory on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Sun tried to dictate the pace early in a physical contest that frequently bordered on aggressive. Forward Nylssa Smith had to leave the game early in the first quarter after taking a hit to the face, and rookie Caitlin Clark found herself on the ground multiple times after enduring tough screens. Every loose ball became a battle for possession, often resulting in a jump ball.

Before the tension could escalate, coach Sides called a timeout to ensure her team stayed focused, while veteran Kelsey Mitchell made it clear that backing down was not an option.

"I told our group early on, I don't care what happens, being bullied will not be the issue — we will not be bullied today," Mitchell said. "It was about staying confident... not letting anything just happen to us. We know how strong these teams are, but we believe in ourselves too."

Defeating the No. 2 team in the league, a squad that has already secured a playoff spot, could be a significant boost for the Fever. Now standing at 15-16 and currently seventh in the league standings, the Fever are beginning to entertain postseason aspirations. Despite only having two players — Damiris Dantas and Temi Fagbenle — with playoff experience, the atmosphere at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the intensity on the court made it feel like a playoff game for Indiana.

Clark mentioned that Wednesday’s game was one of the most physical she has ever played. Sides added that her team’s ability to take the hits and keep fighting showed how much they have grown since the season began.

"(It showed) maturity and toughness today," Sides said. "(The Sun are) the best defensive team in the league, and they make everything really difficult and very physical, but you can't let that get to you.

"I felt the game got real chippy for a while, so I called a timeout to make sure we kept our composure. We couldn’t let it rattle us. We just needed to keep doing what we were doing."

Though toughness doesn’t show up on a stat sheet, Fagbenle’s willingness to do the gritty work was crucial for the Fever. She didn’t score, but her team-high +18 plus/minus rating reflected her impact. Her length disrupted the Sun’s drives to the basket, and her screens created space for her teammates. She finished with three rebounds and one block, while Lexie Hull led Indiana with eight rebounds, and Aliyah Boston and Smith each grabbed six.

"If you want to know what won this game — defensive rebounding. I wouldn’t have been able to say that in the past," Sides said. "We did an incredible job. We had five stops to end the game in the last two minutes and 50 seconds. They didn’t score. That’s amazing.

"That is a great team. The way they’ve locked in and taken pride on that end of the floor is making a huge difference for us."