Christie Sides addresses roster decisions ahead of Mystics game highlighting Fever's playoff inexperience: "This is just new for us"

Christie Sides’ Indiana Fever had already clinched the No. 6 spot in the WNBA playoffs leading into Thursday’s game against the Washington Mystics. For most teams, that would mean rest for the starters to prepare for the playoffs. Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston have been playing big minutes, so many wondered how Sides will line up the Fever versus Washington.

In the end, no changes in the starting unit happened for the Fever against the Mystics. Indiana still had Clark, Mitchell, Boston, Lexie Hull and NaLyssa Smith. However, Kelsey Mitchell gave fans an injury scare after seemingly hurting her left ankle in the first quarter. However, she reappeared on the bench in the second quarter, initially wearing a knee brace for a few minutes.

Christie Sides talked to the media before the game and had this to say about roster decisions:

"I don't have a single starter who's ever played in a playoff game so we're all trying to figure out what we need ‘cause this is just new for us. But, yeah, I've had conversations with several of them about what tonight is gonna look like."

Sides kept her starters but compensated by limiting their minutes. Mitchell had the least playing time, seeing action for just five minutes. Hull’s 21 minutes were the most among the first five.

Without key players for most of the game, Indiana trailed 82-66 entering the fourth quarter. The bench unit, however, showed fight, refusing to go down easily and nearly pulled off the victory. It was a case of too little too late as Washington won 92-91.

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Christie Sides’ coaching will be tested in the playoffs

Christie Sides has been coaching since 2000 and appeared in the WNBA playoffs (2013-2016) as an assistant coach of the Chicago Sky. 2024 will be the first time she will lead a team in the postseason as the head coach. Like her players, she will have to be at her best for the Indiana Fever to cause an upset in the first round of the playoffs.

Despite the Fever’s 1-8 start to the season, the coach guided the team to a huge turnaround after the Olympic break to secure a postseason spot. This prize is a first-round matchup against the Connecticut Sun, a perennial playoff team.

Connecticut has been to the playoffs over the last seven years. During that stretch, they went to the semifinals thrice and the finals twice. They are big favorites to move to the second round against Christie Sides’ team this year.

The Indiana Fever are 1-3 in the regular season against the Connecticut Sun. Sides and her players will have to step up to advance to the second round.