Tag: Christie Sides

Why Fever coach Christie Side wants Caitlin Clark to play with more selfishness

“I think sometimes she’s being a little too unselfish at times.”

Fever head coach Christie Sides wants Caitlin Clark to create more shots for herself. In fact, Christie wants Caitlin to be less “unselfish” with her passing.

The Fever are still reeling from Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Chicago Sky. Despite the absolute box-office rivalry matchup that included a filthy Caitlin Clark 3-pointer, the team let a 15-point lead evaporate. (They also could not stop Angel Reese down the stretch. Not good.)

After looking at the film and having time to digest it a bit, Christie Sides thinks something that could help the Fever going forward is if Caitlin Clark created more shots for herself. Per Matthew Byrne of Clutch Points, this is what Sides shared with the media on Tuesday:

“I think sometimes she’s being a little too unselfish at times…I mean, she had 13 assists the other night against Chicago…if you’re open, she’s gonna hit you.”

“I think she turns down some shots. I’d like her to take some shots that, when she comes off, she knows she has the green light.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

A photo of Caitlin Clark playfully shushing Fever coach Christie Sides became an instant meme

A funny meme courtesy of Caitlin Clark.

The vibes around the Indiana Fever have gotten much better now that they’ve started winning games, and it seems like they’re having some fun during practice, at least according to one photo that’s going around.

It’s a shot of Caitlin Clark shushing coach Christie Sides, who … appears to be dancing in some fashion? Whatever it is, it became an instant meme as folks shared it on X (formerly Twitter) and made some jokes about it.

Here’s a roundup of what we saw as Clark and Co. got ready to face the Chicago Sky on Sunday for a must-watch WNBA contest:

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=421393215]

 

 

 

Fever coach Christie Sides called out her team for perceived lack of effort after loss to the Sun

Fever coach Christie Sides felt her team didn’t try hard enough against the Sun on Monday.

Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides criticized her team in a big way after its 89-72 loss to the Connecticut Sun on Monday night.

When asked about her team’s biggest defensive problem against Connecticut during press availability, Sides openly questioned her team’s effort in the game and said the coaching staff had to prompt the team to “keep playing hard” during the defeat.

The 3-10 Sun are a young team, and growing pans are to be expected, particularly with developing superstars like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.

However, openly grappling with your team’s perceived lack of effort after a difficult loss feels like it could backfire.

“You can’t at this level coach effort,” Sides told reporters, per ClutchPoints’ Matthew Byrne. “You can’t play in this league… if you have to coach effort. It’s just too hard.”

This is a pretty pointed critique for Sides to make about her team, and we’re sure that the message will be received by the Fever players. It just depends on how the criticism will go over in the Indiana locker room.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=421393215]

Caitlin Clark seemingly getting fouled with no call fired up Fever coach Christie Sides to the point of a tech

The refs seemingly ignoring a Storm foul on Caitlin Clark got Fever coach Christine Sides fired up to the point of a tech.

In what was a pretty chippy Thursday night game between the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm, Indiana coach Christie Sides earned a technical foul while defending her star rookie, Caitlin Clark.

Fieldhouse Files reporter Scott Agness noticed that a possible no-call on the Storm as Clark went in for a basket got Sides fired up on the sideline. Her passionate response to the perceived no-call earned her a technical foul, something Clark picked up earlier in the game.

Sides defending Clark in a moment like this will build trust and respect in the Fever locker room, as opposing players aren’t going to stop going hard at Clark during her first WNBA season.

While technical fouls are never ideal, standing up for your player when you feel like they’ve been wronged without proper response is more than fair.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=421393215]

Fever coach Christie Sides blasts critics after an underwhelming 0-5 start

“Caitlin uses the word grace a lot — give us some grace.”

After losing their first five games of the season, the Indiana Fever are going through it. People are frustrated — angry even— but head coach Christie Sides says the criticism the team is facing isn’t fair.

The noise surrounding the Indiana Fever’s losing woes is so loud that it’s getting back to the team. Aliyah Boston had to recently delete her X (formerly Twitter) app because some fans have become unhinged with what they’ve said to her.

Now, Christie Sides is coming to the defense of her squad and telling everyone that the comments they are receiving are unnecessary. Here’s what she recently told Nick Hamilton of TheHardwood94 about the criticism:

“It’s just a lot of…hate and the vile language directed to these players…for them to have to deal with that after coming every day and giving their all in their job, it’s just not fair.

“What are we saying to them if they’re going to be so criticized for getting up every day and coming to play basketball and trying to put a good product on the floor?…”

“Caitlin uses the word grace a lot — give us some grace. Give these guys some grace. They deserve that. They don’t deserve what’s being said.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=117952]

Fever coach Christie Sides looked so distracted by ESPN’s TV interview during a close fourth quarter

ESPN needs to stop these awkward interviews.

The WNBA is enjoying a terrific opening to one of its most highly anticipated seasons ever. And it seems ESPN is still hellbent on holding onto archaic broadcast tropes that don’t really appear to serve anyone watching.

During the Indiana Fever’s tough 88-84 loss to the Connecticut Sun on Monday, ESPN conducted a live awkward interview with Indiana coach Christie Sides. Even just watching the interview live, it’s pretty apparent that Sides is struggling to hear the questions being asked of her and that she was understandably distracted while trying to coach her team in a tough fourth quarter.

It just, once again, made this interview process seem so unnecessary:

Seriously, though: Who are these interviews for?

Are fans legitimately getting great insight from coaches who will most likely spout off platitudes about playing with effort and getting quality shots? I’m open-minded, but I doubt anyone is gleaning anything useful or insightful from this. I highly doubt a coach in the heat of the moment will ever say anything more valuable.

This feels like an appendage that ESPN should, at the very least, consider adjusting rather than distracting a coach as they do their job.