On Monday, WNBA enthusiasts expressed dissatisfaction with ESPN’s decision to conduct an in-game interview with Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides, with many advocating for an end to such practices.

During a critical moment in the fourth quarter, with the Fever trailing 64-61 against the Connecticut Sun, Sides, who is currently in her second season as Indiana’s head coach, was seen on video from Awful Announcing covering her ears to hear the questions while still keeping an eye on the game.

As the Fever scored an additional two points at the conclusion of the interview, several spectators took to social media to voice their disapproval of the timing of the interview and its impact on the overall broadcast.

They argued that it was distracting for Sides to participate in a Q&A while actively coaching in a closely contested game during the final quarter.

Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides during an in-game interview with ESPN on May 20, 2024. X/Awful Announcing

“Hate it! @WNBA @espn stop doing this! The fans don’t want it and I know the coaches don’t want to do it!” one user posted.

Another griped, “To me, regardless of sport, these in game interviews are worthless. No coach or player is saying anything earth shattering. It’s intrusive and annoying. Brings nothing to the broadcast.”

“I absolutely hate this. I hated it with the Aces the other day too,” a separate user wrote. “That coach wasn’t feeling it.”

What the user was referring to transpired last week, when Aces head coach Becky Hammon’s in-game exchange ended with an awkward pause following a question.

“Never interview Becky Hammon mid-game especially in the 4th quarter”

Hammon, coming off back-to-back WNBA championships with the Aces, later told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she experienced difficulty hearing broadcasters Tiffany Greene and Debbie Antonelli.

“I didn’t hear the question. I heard the first one and then there was just this man super loud in my ear,” Hammon said. “There was no guy on the call. I couldn’t hear [Greene and Antonelli] at all.”

Christie Sides speaks to Caitlin Clark during the Fever’s game against the Sun on May 20, 2024. Getty Images
Monday was a rough night for the Fever in every facet, with Indiana dropping its fourth straight game in the 88-84 loss.

Prized rookie Caitlin Clark, the No.1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, earned a technical foul after yelling at officials over a steal by the Sun’s Alyssa Thomas.

“A little frustration of how the game was reffed. But it is what it is. That’s out of your control. I thought our team put ourselves in position to make some plays to try and win down the stretch and the Sun always came up with big plays,” Clark said postgame.