Fever’s Sophie Cunningham reveals the major issue that has held Indiana back originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indiana Fever seemed to have found a rhythm. But it disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived.
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The Fever began the season 1-2 before ripping off three consecutive wins. Indiana has lost the past two to the Golden State Valkyries and the Portland Fire — the latter securing a 100-84 blowout victory on Saturday, in a game that has been dominated by the perceived strife between Caitlin Clark and her head coach Stephanie White.
Both Clark and White on Monday did their best to move past the viral exchange on the bench, because they know the Fever’s reality is that this is a .500 team struggling to meet the championship expectations foisted upon it.
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Ahead of Indiana’s next game against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, guard Sophie Cunningham revealed how the Fever coaches and players had a “much-needed” meeting on Monday to go over the “unacceptable” loss to the Fire.
“We peeled back all of the layers, and so I think everyone’s on a good page right now, and we’re ready to work,” Cunningham told reporters.
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Cunningham revealed that the Fever are aware that their team defense needs to improve, and one of the major issues centers on the lack of variety in Indiana’s scheme: the Fever are running only one right now.
“We probably had 10 (defensive schemes) last year. Each team has stuff up their sleeve, but if you can’t execute ‘em, you can’t do ‘em. And so this team really does have to focus,” Cunningham said. “We have a lot of people who are very talented.”
With that in mind, fans will expect a highly-focused Fever squad when the Dream roll into Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night.
