Just as the Indiana Fever began to see the light at the end of the tunnel, head coach Stephanie White hit them with a harsh reality check: they haven’t won anything yet. Only hours after hoisting the Commissioner’s Cup, White made sure her players stayed focused on their bigger goal – a WNBA championship.
On Thursday, Indiana defeated the Minnesota Lynx 74-59 in the Commissioner’s Cup final, snapping a weeks-long losing streak. Led by Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston, the Fever proved they can win – and even bring home silverware – without relying solely on Caitlin Clark.
The players didn’t miss a chance to celebrate. Champagne flowed, music blasted, and locker room vibes were on full display across their social media. But White quickly reminded her squad that the job isn’t done.
What did Stephanie White say postgame?
“That game was great. The Commissioner’s Cup. We won a trophy, they got some money,” White said in her postgame press conference. “But it doesn’t mean anything in the whole scheme of where we want to be – and we’ve got to take care of business.”
She’s no buzzkill, though. White acknowledged that her players deserved to enjoy the moment – just not to dwell on it. “We want to be able to enjoy these moments when they happen and then quickly refocus and reframe,” she added.
With Clark still sidelined by a groin injury earlier in the week, the burden has fallen to veterans like Natasha Howard, Sydney Colson, and Sophie Cunningham. And they’ve stepped up – not just on the court, but in helping younger players stay locked in.
“When we come out to practice every day, we’re locked in and ready to go,” White emphasized.
Fever heating up at the right time
After weeks of inconsistency, Indiana may finally have hit its stride. Within 48 hours – and without Clark on the floor – the Fever not only secured the Commissioner’s Cup but also took down the powerhouse Las Vegas Aces.
Star guard Kelsey Mitchell summed it up: “We kind of deserved it, based on our preparation and everything we had been through prior to this game.”
Still, as White made clear: enjoy it – and then get back to work.
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