With the Indiana Fever in the midst of a two-game losing streak, star guard Sophie Cunningham revealed on Tuesday that the team held a two-hour meeting to address their recent struggles ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the Atlanta Dream.
Recently, the Fever’s defensive woes have been at the forefront of coverage. Not that it’s a new issue, it has been present since the beginning of the season, but when you’re losing, it becomes even more obvious.
In their two losses against the Golden State Valkyries and the Portland Fire over the weekend, Stephanie White’s team allowed 92 points in the paint. When you turn the ball over to the opponent and are forced to switch to defense instantly, you’re more likely to commit mistakes, and that’s exactly how the Fever lost those two games.
While White’s tactical prowess remains undisputed, his tactical assessment has come under scrutiny, most notably after a heated back-and-forth with Caitlin Clark, and now veteran guard Sophie Cunningham has also had something to say on the matter.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, the 29-year-old conceded that the defensive schemes are the biggest concern for Indiana and that they are hurting the team’s identity, as the Fever have become “too soft right now.”
“What’s happening to us right now is we’re only playing one defensive scheme, and in this league, it’s too good, you can’t. And people are gonna pick us apart. And so, you know, we gotta dial in, we gotta focus. Your IQ has to be on point. You have to know what schemes we’re doing, and if you can’t do that, then you can’t play. And that’s the point where we’re at right now,” Cunningham said.
While the Fever’s defense was much better last season, it has now been plagued by a few major question marks. Though it is still very early in the season, the Fever’s defensive scheme has looked off. What was once the most reliable part of the team is now struggling to find answers. Cunningham also said this in her comments:
“ We had probably 10 of them last year. Each team has stuff up on their sleeve, but if you can’t execute them, you can’t do it. So, this team really does have to focus. We have a lot of young guys. We have a lot of people who are very talented. But at the same time, you have to dial in and know what they’re doing, otherwise it just won’t work. So, we’ve had a long meeting yesterday. It’s a really good meeting. And so, hopefully, we’ve kind of turned the page and everyone is kind of on the same page now. So, hopefully Thursday you guys will notice that. You know, just what everyone’s kind of feeling. Where we need to be, what our identity is,“ she added.
Sophie Cunningham also said that the team held a meeting prior to practice, which seemed to go very well. She stated that it was a “much-needed one” after brutal back-to-back losses on the road. The meeting was initiated by the coaches but ultimately ended up being player-led.
It’s clear that the Fever have not been themselves as of late. They went on a three-game winning streak before falling into back-to-back losses. The fact that Cunningham spoke out and acknowledged that their play has not lived up to the standard they are capable of is a good sign that this locker room is still strong.
Read More:
Former NBA Champ Told Harsh Caitlin Clark Truth as Stephanie White’s Fire Verdict Issued
Caitlin Clark Breaks Silence About Viral Heated Exchange With Stephanie White
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