Sun vs Fever : We will not be bullied

The Indiana Fever demonstrated that staying composed and matching the intensity of a bully can lead to success, overcoming a challenging opponent in a physical battle.

Against the Connecticut Sun, a team the Fever had struggled with during a loss in early June that led to coach Christy Sides benching most of her starters, Indiana withstood the Sun's aggressive play to secure an 84-80 victory on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Sun set a tough tone early in a game that frequently veered into physical play. Forward Nylssa Smith left the game in the first quarter after a blow to the face, while rookie Caitlin Clark was knocked to the floor multiple times by hard screens. The game was marked by frequent scrambles for loose balls and numerous jump balls.

To keep her team focused, Sides called a timeout to manage the escalating tensions, but veteran Kelsey Mitchell made sure her teammates stood their ground.

"I told our group early, I don’t care what happens in the game, being bullied will not be the issue—we will not be bullied today," Mitchell said. "It was about maintaining our confidence. We know how good these teams are, but we have confidence in ourselves too."

Defeating the second-ranked Sun, who had already secured a playoff spot, could be a significant boost for the Fever, who are now 15-16 and seventh in the league standings. Despite having only two players—Damiris Dantas and Temi Fagbenle—with postseason experience, the Fever's performance felt playoff-like in both atmosphere and intensity.

Clark described the game as one of the most physically demanding she has experienced, while Sides noted the team’s growth in handling such challenges.

"(It showed) maturity and toughness today," Sides said. "(The Sun are) the best defensive team in the league, and they make everything difficult and very physical. You can’t let that get to you. I called a timeout just to ensure we kept our composure and stayed focused on our game."

Toughness isn’t always reflected in statistics, but Fagbenle’s contributions were crucial. Although she didn’t score, her defensive presence and willingness to set screens were pivotal. She recorded three rebounds and one block, with Lexie Hull leading the team with eight rebounds and Aliyah Boston and Smith each contributing six.

"If you ask what won this game, it’s defensive rebounding," Sides said. "We had five stops in the last two minutes and 50 seconds of the game with no points allowed. That’s incredible. Their commitment to defense is making a significant difference for us."