Christie Sides Sends Strong Message To Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Doubters Ahead Of WNBA Playoffs

Coach Christie Sides' Indiana Fever have one game left on the regular season schedule on the road against the Washington Mystics Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.

The Fever have clinched a spot in the WNBA Playoffs, which begin this Sunday . Now, they're waiting for an opponent, aware that they could draw a team that will be favored to defeat them in the first round.

The perception among many WNBA fans is that the Fever are a team on the upswing that isn't quite ready for prime time, judging by Caitlin Clark's rookie status and Indiana's barely above .500 regular season record (20-19).

Sides was asked whether she felt disappointed in not knowing the Fever's first round opponent after a full slate of Tuesday night games.

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"I mean, that's just part of the fun of it, right?" Sides asked in a conversation with media during Wednesday's practice.

"We'll be ready whenever we know."

The Fever have been led by the dynamic duo of Clark and Kelsey Mitchell down the stretch as they have for most of the season.

Clark has risen to eighth place among all WNBA scorers with 19.5 points per game, .1 points behind Mitchell, who ranks seventh.

Sides also sent a strong message to her team's future opponents, fans and the rest of the WNBA with a confident, self-assured response to a reporter's question.

She was asked if there is a "feeling" about whether or not it the Fever's first round opponent matters. Sides said that the Fever will succeed based on their habits and the way they perform on the court.

"That's what we've talked about from day one," Sides said.

"It is about what we do, we do at a really high level, and be consistent with it, with our habits.

"I think we have an opportunity to compete with anybody in the league."

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