Harsh message from Christie Sides amid criticism from Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston

After Wednesday night’s 85-83 loss to the Seattle Storm, the Indiana Fever are winless through their first five games to start the season. The Fever’s first two losses were by 20 points or more, but over the next three they cut the deficit margins from 11 to four to two.

Right after Wednesday’s loss, Indiana head coach Christie Sides said the Fever were the most inexperienced team in the WNBA. Therefore, she is proud of her players who show up every day and try to find ways to win. Sides’ team practiced at USC’s Galen Center on Thursday, preparing for its Friday night game against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Sides was asked what she would say to potential critics speaking about Fever’s 0-5 start, via Nitecast Media’s Nick Hamilton.

“The hate and vile language directed at these players,” Sides said. “These guys show up every day trying to do their job, learn from each other, try to get better. And that they have to deal with this after coming every day and giving their all to their job… it’s not fair.”

The fever rises against the storm

Turnovers have plagued the Fever in the past, and while they only had 11 on Wednesday, most came in the fourth quarter. Other areas, like offensive rebounding, also suffered when the Fever let another game slip out of reach. Caitlin Clark excelled in the third quarter and led with 21 points. But she and compatriot Kelsey Mitchell shot 11 of 33 and 4 of 15 from beyond the arc combined.

Meanwhile, former All-Star Nneka Ogwumike scored 22 points in her return from an ankle injury for Seattle. Ogwumike, at forward, scored more points than Indiana’s starting forwards combined. NaLyssa Smith had 16, while Aliyah Boston struggled with just four points and four fouls. Boston was last year’s first pick. The competition between top drafted talents continues Friday, as Clark and the Fever take on second-round pick Cameron Brink and the Sparks.

“(Boston’s) leadership has been incredible,” Clark said. “We are navigating this situation together.”

“Caitlin uses the word grace a lot,” Sides said. “Like, give us some grace. Give these guys some grace. They deserve this. They don’t deserve what we say. We talk about it all the time: turn off the noise… don’t pay attention to it. But it’s hard to do, it’s the world we live in.

Clark and the Fever take on Brink and the Sparks (1-2) Friday at 10 p.m. ET.