Caitlin Clark - Lexie Hull - Coach Sides Fever Upset Sun #indianafever

Coach Christie Sides our way Tony well we asked about it before the game but to beat that team that I don't think the fever beaten since 2021 and to have it be like that with that kind of atmosphere what did this one mean to you and this team I think for me just the maturity and the toughness that my players showed tonight was just incredible I mean we're watching them just grow up right like from where we started to where we are now just the way they've just consistently improved we that 1% so for me proud proud for the win Connecticut is an incredible team but so proud of these these players kelse is the first player in this franchise's history with five straight games of 20 plus points what did she change something what has led to this stretch from her and why why do you think she's been doing it for since before the Olympic break now yeah I just Kelsey Mitchell is special she's a special player that um now with you know the players that she has around her that give her an opportunity to get freed up a lot more than she has in the past it's just created and she's playing with such confidence and I mean she's a great shooter you have to guard her a certain way because she can put it on the floor she's I think she's the fastest player in the league downhill um so I mean you have to be a really good Defender to stop her to the rim but then you also have to be right on top of her to keep her from shooting a three and she's just shooting the hell out of it right now we go AEM then we'll go James coach uh Kelsey said it was important not to get bullied this game and to kind of stand up for you know you guys as a team just the toughness that they showed and again to not back down from The Challenge that the sun of put put up today what does it say about the team just like I said at the beginning just maturity maturity and toughness today um we told them I mean you know they had us three games um they're they're the best defensive team in the league and they just are going to make everything really hard and be very physical and you can't let that get to you I thought the game got real chippy there for a little while and I just I think I called a timeout just to make sure that we just kept our composure um didn't need to let that get to us just keep doing what we were doing go James and we'll go Brad on the left Christy obviously Kelsey's been through a lot throughout the season personally off the court things like that how much does her character as a human being add to what we see as a player that is a great question Kelsey Mitchell is is just the most unbelievable professional athlete that I might have ever been around she might not be happy all the time about certain things but Kelsey Mitchell is going to show up every single day and she's going to do the work every single day and do whatever our team needs um for us to be successful every single day I mean that shows so much about who she is and I told her the other day I was talking to after practice and I just said your dad is smiling down on you right now he is he is so proud of of you and she just was like I hope so coach but that man is so proud of her I'm sure her entire family is go Brad then we go Christine we knew tamy was a Difference Maker for this team on a night when she doesn't score a point but a plus 18 where did she matter most for this group defensively defensively defense and rebounding won us this game and you know we've talked about how you know our defense and how much that we needed to improve and and we have they have locked in especially during the break and they have locked in and just worked to get better and then to me if you want to ask what won this game defense and rebounding I wouldn't have been able to say that in the past but that we we did a hell of a job we had five stops to end the game last two minutes and 50 seconds they did not score that's incredible that is a great team um so just you know just how they've locked in and and took pride on that end of the floors is just making a difference for us go Christine then Scott Christie when you think of the the start this season and the dark days and all the criticism and everyone doubting is there even a I mean you look obviously very happy and even a little emotional about what's happening but is there a particular joy that you can describe with knowing how hard it was at the beginning of the season to see what you're doing now I think the word joy that you just used is something that that we couldn't find a lot of early and I I have preached that from the beginning that you've got to have fun playing this game and you've got to have that Joy is so important and when we came out of the Olympic break and won those two games it was a different feel out there and that's what we talked about that we you know there's this Joy there's this excitement and it's it's it's created this new just this this different feeling around our team a lot of it I think really has to do with their relationships and how that's grown um and just the the the comfort that they have with each other yeah there was some dark days early and a lot of doubters but again the maturity in the toughness they kept showing up they kept showing up and they kept improving in areas that we needed to improve on and it it showed up tonight big time just I don't know if I've ever been more proud of a group of people in my life go Scott then we go Chloe is Alexi kind of the epitome of what you're just talking about defense rebounding the hustle she kind of the epitome of what you want to see out there and and then more to that um how much have you seen her embrace you know going from out of the rotation to now a a instrumental part of what you're doing yeah you know Lexi stayed locked in and ready to go when her number was called and she's just she's just done everything that we needed to do um to to get these wins and to be successful um you know tonight she came got got the starting got the call to start um had confidence in her shot she had that crazy three right in front of our bench that was just with the shot clock going out but that's just where her confidence level is um she's got her feet ready she's got her hands ready she's got great players around her that are creating all kinds of actions and she's standing over there and when when that ball gets to her hands and she's got a wide open look she's knocking it down and then on the defensive end you know she's drawing their best player now she's communicating with people she's locked into the schemes along with everyone else because it's not just that like everyone has to be locked in and on the same page and um she's just done a great job for us since the Break um even before the break but she's just been um also as with Kelsey an unbelievable professional who just kept showing up and waiting on her opportunity go Chloe then we'll go Matt you talked a lot last year and at the beginning of this year about being able to close out games just how much confidence does it give you especially after the Olympic break you've been consistently able to do that I mean that's that's M that's the maturation process that we've been going through I mean that that's all I can say about we've had those experiences last year we had some early it didn't go our way but just being able to have those same um POS situations that we've gone again and ran in practice the same situations in games early we would we would go in and practice and work on those same and that's that's paying off for us now and they have confidence in what we're doing just like in the Atlanta game we were able to double team a lot of of the post actions and some of the Guard actions when we hadn't done that very much and we've just been able to get do do that job do that initial job but scramble out of it when a lot of times when we would not do what we were supposed to do we would pause and we would not keep playing now we are scrambling and we are playing one through five so just the maturation process for me is just what's because of that GL go Matt then we got two on Zoom yeah it seems like Aaliyah has been battling every sing night and she was able to hold her own tonight against three veterans I guess how much does she set the tone physically in the first quarter where in the next three seems like everybody's diving for a loose ball yeah you know ab's that that that dominant post player down there that kind of gets everything um loosened up for the outside because you know if we get her touches they're they're going to collapse on her um and if they don't great that's that's great for her that's great for us she's going to go and she's going to make a move but even she catches in the high post I mean she had eight assists tonight right she had eight assists because when she caught at the high post if caylin was getting double team she caught at the high post and everybody was spaced and everybody on the court can make shots so they can't just collapse on us so she was able wherever they decided to come from that's she was able to make that pass so she's able to also Playmate as Al you know as well as if she's isolated down in the post go to work um but she's holding it down defensively as well she's doing a great job um matching up to some of the best post players in the league okay the last two uh George and we'll go Willie George go ahead coach congrats on the how important is it for your team to have games like these because we see it in sports every year high seats get bounced early because they don't get Battle tests in the regular season they don't grind out wins like you guys did tonight yeah you know they you know they're playoff team second best team in the league right now um for us to to grind that out and get that win from them it's just it's just helping us for where we want to be in the future we want to be where the Connecticut Sun where they are where the New York Liberty is and where the Las Vegas Aces Seattle like that's who we're we're trying to be there and we're making baby steps um to get there and all these experiences are helping us prepare us for whatever comes but for us right now the next thing is the Chicago sky and that is uh Friday night and that's what we've got to take care of to keep this momentum going last one to finish up with Willie hi Christie um you talked about the growth and maturity and and how all the players body in just kept showing up and then and you tie that in with you know your praise for Kelsey I'm wondering if there was a point early in the season where you know you were talking to the to the girls but where Kelsey came to you and there was a moment where she let you know we got you and how that ties into being an extension of the coaching staff and how you rely on her in that manner yeah you know when I when I talk about them keep showing up you know that was the challenge for us coaches um from the from the beginning with such a young inexperienced team you know it could have it could have gone a different direction but I you know you talked about character and and we're really lucky to have a great group of not just good basketball players Young basketball players but great people in that locker room and that is what Lyn D and I have strived to make sure you know that's who we want in our locker room and that's who we have and and they just feed off us and we feed off them and I think they trust us you know to make sure we keep putting them in positions to be successful um but they they keep doing things to make me look like a really good coach and our staff and Jesse Miller who had a great Scout tonight and Paul Miller who had a great Scout against Atlanta um Jared and karima's got the Scout against Chicago with with talling you know we're just we're just all on the same page and it's just a great place to be right now and you can just feel it um in our locker room and that's just where we try to keep everything because that's the most important thing everything in that locker room is the is the most important thing keeping it there all right for any Kelsie Mitchell of you I know you guys have talked about in the past kind of staying composed in these big moments just what did it mean to be able to stay composed when the sun were kind of charging back at the end especally especially against the team top two in the league uh I think that we had a lot of experience throughout the course of our first couple what 12 games of Connecticut and New York and teams like that so we've already experienced what it felt like to lose and have to battle and know withstand that kind of energy and I think I think for us it was just about not not taking it no more and I think it was a matter of you want to win or you don't so uh Matt yeah um for Caitlin Clark Caitlin um was just wondering if you would say that this is the most physical game that you've been a part of in your career um obviously there was that hard screen with at and you didn't seem pleased about it yeah it hurt a little bit um I would say it's definitely up there with one of the most physical games I've played so far but that's like you know you're going to get that from them when you're when you're coming into this game that's just how they are they're a physical team they set a lot of screens they do a really good job of setting and using screens they really do um but I thought we navigated screens well especially when we needed to late in the fourth quarter we were switching well um contesting shots and you know rebounding and getting getting stops at the end were the reasons we won go Christine then we go Brad congratulations guys for all three of you uh what does this mean I mean obviously a lot of people watching you beat Connecticut you've won What four out of five since the break can you put uh each of you put this into some perspective this victory tonight thank you uh well it's been uh in our locker room about when the last time we beat Connecticut and I think for us was kind of like a personal Andor like let's see what we can do as a group and I think that after this uring that what we do bring to the table has value um I think our our 12 can only get stronger and I think going forward you only see our group get Tighter and Tighter and we going to be able to withstand a lot of these matches down the stretch so I'm excited about where we going yeah I mean I agree with Kelsey it's been since what 2016 since the fever have beat oh 2021 sorry not 2016 what happened in 2016 for oh yeah four for 2 A lot happened in 2016 I was 14 but anyway I think it's I think it's a big win for us um I don't know I mean this is a team that we felt we hadn't really given a game to at all we felt I think especially here like we felt like we gave one away but at the same time we didn't feel like we played like how we are playing now and then the two games there obviously were about as bad as it gets for us as a team this season so I'm just proud of of our group I thought we came in very motivated very excited for this game I thought our crowd was honestly incredible they were really into the game like that certainly helps us a lot especially when you need a big stop there at the end like that's huge it feels like there's another defender on the floor and I'm just really thankful for that and um even though we didn't score a ton of points in the fourth like it was our defense like I said our defense in are Lexie Hull rebounding yeah I think you know we're taking every game as it comes one at a time and to get a win tonight um I think you know some people might have counted this game off for us but I know we came in really motivated really excited um and believing that we could get the dub and just really proud of how our group kind of stayed together throughout all four quarters go Brad then we'll go Scott got two Lexi first we talked earlier today about about kind of minutes and moments you had some again tonight but tamy had some everybody kind of stepped up when they needed to why is this team just kind of sort of been able to find that as this second half has gotten going here I think you know one through 12 we have confidence in every single person on this team and I think everybody feels that we have you know people so supportive on the bench that when your number is called when your name is called and you have an opportunity to take advantage of that that you have your entire team behind you so it's great you know tmy had a really great night tonight defensively and everyone when their numbers they do what they need to do second one Kelsey and Caitlyn this team got a Swagger now it just feels like there's a little bit of an attitude this team has found in a positive direction with this last couple weeks uh we get enough text and stuff like that to be I guess gritty so to speak um I think that what we bring to the table and who we are and who we're growing and showing to be is just who we are um I think that what what kin brought obviously H but I think her and her play and utilizing us to like show what as a group what we can do is super special and I think that the swags going Contin continue to drip I guess because I mean we only we only jelling more and more together and I think you know the sky's the limit for us I think also it's just like a lot of confidence like when you can stack Confidence from game to game like that's the biggest thing for a team and especially going on runs within the game like that's confidence too so I think you're just seeing our confidence grow um at a different level than it was at the beginning of the season I think that's what's been motivating us the most honestly kind of following up on the physicality of this game there was some chippiness there as well especially early Nelissa took that shot to the face but how do it feel that the way you guys responded and obviously came out on top and do you feel like this was a playoff type game playoff atmosphere playoff basketball I definitely do feel like it was a play playoff atmosphere and a Vibe um I think that the grit and and the style of play that you saw from both teams is what you're going to continue to see for the rest of the season um the playoffs is important um you know that we all know that and so you're going to continue to see that gritty kind of play but um I told our group earlier I was like I don't care what happened in the game but not being bul being bullied is not issue we're not g to be bullied today and so for us it was about making sure we stay confident in that stance of like don't let nothing just happen to you U we know how great these teams are but you know we got confidence in ourselves too so go James and Tony Kelsey for you obviously you've been cooking as of late you've been a scorer all your life but what does this level of play feel like when it feels like when we're watching it every Defender is a mismatch uh I don't know man I I just try to stay focused on what matters keep the main thing the main thing um utilize my team in the process but right now it's just about winning as many games as possible to get that playoff spot so I'm excited about where our play individually as a group as a group and individually where we can all go um but the main goal right now is to kind of just win got Tony we got two on Zoom like seeing this stretch where everything's kind of been clicking for you did you did you change something in your game day routine or do you feel like you're just in a groove right now kept things same she started hanging out with me more rubbing off on me some are good or some are bad true uh we'll go to Willie then we'll finish up with Michael Willie go ahead than you have one question for if I can get Kaitlin and Lexi to comment comment on this if you look at the entire season the Improvement of the team all the players have had really good games a couple of off nights but the model of consistency since day one would it be safe and fair to say offense defense leadership in the locker room is the Ladi sitting to the left of you for sure I mean this is somebody that's been this with this organization for how many years Kel six or seven seven seven seven years so I mean if anybody deserves this it's definitely Kel like she comes in and works so hard she's always been a constant voice and even when she was H through training camp in the beginning of the Season like she was somebody that was right on the sideline coaching us talking to us and especially for myself as a rookie coming in here like she was always a very positive voice in there and very supportive and um for me like that makes you feel very welcome coming in as a rookie and getting to play with somebody that's been really really good for this organization so I just feel very lucky and fortunate because I know that's not every situation for for rookie so I'm I'm just very thankful yeah I just would have to second that um I mean obviously coming in with Kelsey for the past few years she's been a solid a solid performer a solid teammate um and I know every year hasn't been easy for her and to see you know her just grind out every season and to be where she is today I think playing her best basketball being the biggest leader she's been um I I think she we'll go as far as she'll take us so just really thankful that she's here and really thankful for you know how she's playing and the type of person that she is last one Mike Vel yeah thank you um Caitlyn I was wondering if I could have you comment on two things first the the rookie record for three-pointers you got that tonight um just how happy you are with being able the way you've been able to sort of transfer that part of your game to the WNBA and if I could ask you to maybe brag a little bit on kelse hard it is to put those type games together I just want to keep in comment on those two things yeah I think the the three-point record is cool and um I think it just speaks to the way we play offense and the way we've been playing offense especially as of late like just fast uptempo um I feel like I've I'm definitely capable of shooting it a little bit better like I feel like I've gotten some tough roles over this over this course of this year but um even that last one tonight like I felt like it was in that one really upset me a little bit but um I still feel like I'm shooting it well I feel like I'm taking good shots and that's the most important thing for this team and um and then kelse like you know like you said is it four or five in a row where she scored over 20 like that's really really hard to do in this league um in my eyes she's one of the most underrated players um I don't think she always gets enough credit for what she does um like and every night for her is very very consistent like you like you see um she shows up she per performs she does what she does does um she's always somebody that I can count on and it's been a lot of fun to build our chemistry over the course of this season I feel like since the break you've really been able to see it Thrive um with me and her at the one and two spots so it's been a lot of fun for myself honestly all right thank you everybody