The Fever forced the Aces into something they hadn't done since 2015. How they made them 'look ugly'

Indianapolis Star

2 days ago

The Fever have held their last two opponents, the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces, under 60 points.
Continuity has been a key to success for Indiana's defense coming together, and playing for a full 40 minutes.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever were already well on their way to victory over the Las Vegas Aces when Sophie Cunningham intercepted a pass in the backcourt and laid it in to extend their lead to 20 late in the third quarter.
It's what followed that gave the sequence added significance.
None of the five players in navy exhaled. There was no celebration. By the time Vegas gathered the ball and looked to try the inbound again, Cunningham was back in her stance, applying backcourt pressure alongside Lexie Hull.
And given how things had gone up until that point, that pass probably would've been picked off, too, if not for Vegas calling timeout.
The Fever are buying into being relentless on defense, coach Stephanie White said following the 81-54 win. Her players are committing themselves to the "activity level" it takes and trusting they can go all out and know the players coming off the bench will maintain momentum.
It's been a focus all season, White said. "But to finally start to see it come together is rewarding."
The Fever are the first team to allow 60 points or fewer in back-to-back games this season.
They held the Minnesota Lynx to a season-low 59 points in Tuesday's Commissioner's Cup championship game, then did the same against the Aces on Thursday.
Taking it a step further, those 54 points were the fewest the Las Vegas Aces have scored since 2015, when they were the San Antonio Stars (their ledger that season included a couple sub-50 outings).
Guard Kelsey Mitchell — who scored 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting and dished out six assists — spotlighted assistant coach Briann January. "She's been amazing and pivotal to our defensive success," Mitchell said, adding Karima Christmas-Kelly and Austin Kelly to her list of shoutouts, as well.
"They know where we need to be and know the risks we can take as young basketball players," Mitchell continued. "Getting deflections, mucking it up and making it look ugly for the best of the best are some of the things you have to do. We know the Aces come with heavy hitters. You can't stop greatness, but you can limit where you can. That's what you guys just saw. Muck it up and make it look ugly."
There was beauty in the ugliness Thursday, with the Fever's high-tempo defense causing chaos throughout.
At no point did Vegas look even remotely comfortable.
Reigning MVP A'ja Wilson accounted for 29 of Vegas' 54 points, doing her damage on 9-of-18 shooting and 11 for 13 at the line.
Jackie Young was the only other player with multiple field goals for the Aces, who shot a woeful 26% (16 for 61) from the field and 3 for 16 from 3. They also committed 17 turnovers, resulting in 19 additional points for the Fever, who finished with a team defensive rating of 72 (that's good).
"Being able to get stops and letting that spark our offense has been great, but that's something we've been working on all season," added forward Aliyah Boston, who logged 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists. "It's about making sure we stay consistent through all four quarters and put in 40 minutes."
After holding Chicago under 60 points in the opener, the Fever allowed 80 or more points in four of their next five games, including a 91-90 loss to Atlanta and a 90-88 loss to New York.
There were signs of progress in more recent games against Seattle and Dallas, and now they're beginning to put everything together, maintaining a high level of intensity that began at practice and has translated to games.
"It's time and reps. It takes time. It's not something that's innate," White said of the defensive chemistry that's fueled Indiana's recent run. "It's just like any relationship. You build trust, believe in one another, continue to have each other's back and call up when your number is called. And our team has continued to stay together even when it hasn't been pretty and now they're starting to see the results of that."
The Fever (9-8) host Los Angeles at 7 p.m. Saturday.