Fever Coach Christie Sides Calls Caitlin Clark's Defense Into Question With Controversial Decision
The Indiana Fever secured the most impressive win of their 2024 season so far on Sunday, as they defeated the Phoenix Mercury 88-82.
Rookie sensation Caitlin Clark finished the game with 15 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds in 39 minutes played. She only time she sat out was in the game's final minute, when she was subbed out of defensive possessions by Fever head coach Christie Sides.
When Sides was asked what went into her decision to bench Clark on those possessions during her postgame press conference, she said, "Just thought I needed a defensive group.
"We needed to make sure we got stops, and that was what that was about," Sides added.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark on the bench with her teammates at Mohegan Sun Arena on Jun 10, 2024. © David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Hearing Sides exclaim that taking out Clark in order to improve her team's defense has fans questioning the Fever coach's motive.
"So even the coach is against her now?" one X user responded to a post of Sides' response, which has nearly 85,000 views.
"Fire Christie Sides Fever won today in spite of her," another fan wrote.
Even when the Fever secure a huge win, fans still find ways to call out Christie Sides