Fever coach Christie Sides starts to feel the pressure of losing after Caitlin Clark’s hype: Is her job at stake?

Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides didn’t hold back her frustration after her team suffered a crushing 36-point loss to the New York Liberty on Thursday night. In her postgame press conference, Sides didn’t mince words, labeling the Fever’s performance as “unacceptable,” especially since it was their home opener.

She emphasized the need for improvement and expressed her disappointment in the team’s inability to make the fans proud with their performance on the court. Sides stated, “We’ve got to do a better job. We’ve got to make the fans proud with what we put on the floor. And I will take it. We didn’t do that tonight. And that’s unacceptable.”

But things are not getting any better for Sides and his players as they were defeated again by Liberty this Saturday, although the margin of defeat was no longer as large and the team showed some improvement, but still with many areas for improvement.

Indiana Fever second-year head coach, Christie Sides.

When a reporter brought up the team’s struggles last season and inquired about how the Fever can turn things around, Sides acknowledged the need for experience and mentioned making changes to the lineup. She also highlighted the team’s focus on defensive work in practice.

However, she expressed frustration at the lack of practice time to address their current issues, saying: “That’s kind of the issue – we don’t have any practice time to go fix this right now.” After taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she simply concluded, “We just have to get better.”

Clark’s arrival adds pressure on Sides as Fever struggle to deliver

The pressure on Sides has intensified this season with the arrival of Caitlin Clark, raising expectations for the Fever to deliver top-notch performances consistently. And while this was not the case, as at times the team showed competitiveness and came within 5 points of Liberty, ending up losing by 11 points and with Clark having her best game so far, things are still not going well for Sides.

In the face of mounting pressure, Sides and the Fever must regroup and demonstrate significant improvement in their upcoming games to alleviate doubts about their capabilities. The challenge ahead is clear, and Sides understands the urgency of the situation as she works to steer her team back on course.

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Caitlin Clark Issues Quiet Warning to WNBA Ahead of Indiana Fever Debut

It’s officially game week for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. They begin the 2024 WNBA season this Tuesday night vs. the Connecticut Sun. Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has already made a significant impact on the league. Over 13,000 fans attended her preseason home debut, which is over 6,000 more fans than the Fever’s average attendance was last year. She’s clearly going to change the WNBA forever.

One of the concerns about Clark’s rookie season, though, is that everything she does will be placed under a microscope. What if her rookie season turns out to be a dud? Or what if the Fever are one of the worst teams in the WNBA? Regardless of what happens this season, Clark knows here team has her back. 

Fans Express Concerns Over Caitlin Clark’s Mental Health Ahead of WNBA Debut

Clark, who was part of a special Iowa women’s basketball team over the past few years, knows what a winning team looks like. It takes a strong culture, and that’s what she has in Indiana. Clark sent a subtle warning to the rest of the WNBA ahead of her debut on Tuesday, admitting that the culture in Indiana is very “special.” In other words, the Fever are going to be tough to beat this season. “The culture here is just really special,” Clark said. “Everyone wants the best for each other, they have each other’s backs.” 

May 3, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in action during the game against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Clark will have plenty of ups and downs throughout her WNBA rookie season. But as long as the Fever’s culture remains tight, Indiana will be a dangerous team. Clark and the Fever begin the 2024 season on Tuesday night vs. the Connecticut Sun.